The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t just make noise at the trade deadline - they sent shockwaves through the Western Conference. With Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. both moved in a bold roster reset, only Ja Morant remains from what was once a rising core that had its sights set on the top seed in the West just a season ago.
The message from the front office? This is a new chapter, and they’re not afraid to turn the page.
Executive VP and GM Zach Kleiman knew the questions would come. Trading away two All-Star-caliber players doesn’t happen quietly - not when the team was a playoff mainstay not long ago. And not when the only remaining face of that core is Morant, a player as electrifying as he is scrutinized.
But if there was any doubt about where the organization stands, Kleiman didn’t shy away from addressing it directly.
“I think we’ve been incredibly supportive,” Kleiman said. “Because Ja is Ja, there’s a lot of attention paid to Ja and everything around him.
I honestly think a lot of it is overblown. I’ve had open, constructive, honest conversations with Ja and his camp, and I’m going to continue to.”
That’s not just lip service. Kleiman made it clear that while Morant is still very much part of the Grizzlies’ present, the team is keeping all options on the table as it retools for the future.
“Ja remains a member of the team,” Kleiman continued. “We evaluate all our players.
We have, and we will continue on, whether they're taking consistent action that lead to consistent positive outcomes for the team. With Ja and everyone else on the team, we will carry forward with an open mind on whether the fit is there.”
That’s a shift in tone from where things stood a year ago, when Memphis was quick to shut down any trade chatter involving Morant. Now? The front office is playing it straight - no promises, no denials, just a clear-eyed look at what’s best for the franchise long-term.
And that long-term vision is what’s guiding every move.
“We’ve been incredibly supportive of (Ja Morant) for many years,” Kleiman reiterated. “This is about organizational direction, though.
This is not about Ja in particular. I understand that Ja is Ja, and there’s more attention kind of paid to that.
But all of this is grounded in organizational direction and building a team that we believe can achieve the highest level of success in this league.”
Translation: This isn’t personal. It’s business. And in the NBA, business can be ruthless - especially when a once-promising core has been derailed by injuries, inconsistency, and a postseason ceiling that never quite matched the hype.
The Morant-Bane-Jackson Jr. trio had its moments. They were young, brash, and explosive - a group that looked like it could grow into something special.
But the reality was tougher than the highlight reels. Injuries piled up.
Chemistry ebbed and flowed. And eventually, the Grizzlies decided to stop waiting for it all to click.
Now, with a war chest of draft picks and a clean slate, Memphis is betting big on the future - even if it means navigating some uncomfortable conversations in the present. The league may be watching and waiting, but the Grizzlies aren’t standing still.
They’ve made their move. The rest of the NBA is officially on notice.