Grizzlies Go All-In on a Rebuild-Except Where It Matters Most
The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t just make noise at the 2026 NBA trade deadline-they lit the fuse and watched the foundation of their franchise go up in smoke. Jaren Jackson Jr.?
Gone. Desmond Bane?
Already out the door. The “Grit and Grind 2.0” era that once had Memphis back in the thick of the Western Conference mix is officially in the rearview.
What’s replacing it is a youth-centric rebuild-one that’s bold, aggressive, and, in some ways, still incomplete.
Because for all the sweeping changes Memphis made, the most defining move of this deadline might be the one they didn’t make. Ja Morant is still a Grizzly. And that decision-or indecision-might end up shaping the next five years of basketball in Tennessee more than any trade they pulled off.
A Season of Slippage and Shifting Priorities
Coming into the 2025-26 season, there was real optimism in Memphis. New head coach Tuomas Iisalo brought a fresh approach, and there was hope that a retooled roster could re-establish the Grizzlies as a playoff fixture. Instead, the year has been marred by instability, injuries, and a team that’s struggled to find its footing.
At 20-31, Memphis sits 11th in the West. That’s close enough to the play-in to keep the calculators running, but far enough to justify a pivot toward the future.
Continuity has been a stranger-lineups have shuffled constantly, and the once-feared defensive identity that defined this franchise has faded. Memphis now ranks in the bottom half of the league in points allowed per game, a far cry from the physical, grind-it-out style that used to make them one of the toughest outs in the league.
Edey Emerges, But Wins Remain Elusive
Even in the chaos, there have been bright spots. Chief among them: Zach Edey.
The 7-foot-4 rookie has been a revelation in the paint, flashing serious upside with a 32-point, 17-rebound performance against Sacramento and a string of double-doubles that have validated the team’s bet on his size and skill set. He’s not just big-he’s productive.
And in a league that’s constantly evolving, Edey gives Memphis a throwback weapon with modern polish.
But as promising as Edey’s development has been, it hasn’t translated into wins. And that’s where the Grizzlies’ front office made its biggest call: it’s time to hit the reset button, for real.
The Deadline That Changed Everything
Memphis didn’t just tweak around the edges-they tore down the core. Trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz wasn’t just a basketball decision; it was a symbolic one.
Jackson was the team’s defensive anchor, a former All-Star, and a key piece of the franchise’s identity. Moving him, especially after already parting ways with Desmond Bane, signaled a full-scale rebuild.
In their place, the Grizzlies are betting on youth. Edey is now a focal point.
Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward are part of the new wave. The message is clear: Memphis is building from the ground up, prioritizing development, flexibility, and asset accumulation.
But there’s one glaring exception to that approach-Ja Morant.
The Morant Dilemma
Morant has played just 20 games this season, sidelined first by a calf strain and then by a UCL sprain in his left elbow. His absence on the court has mirrored the franchise’s uncertainty off it. And as the trade deadline approached, his future became the biggest question mark hanging over the organization.
Make no mistake-Memphis had conversations. League sources say the Grizzlies held talks with the Miami Heat, among others, but their asking price was steep: young blue-chip talent and first-round picks.
That kind of return makes sense when Morant is healthy and playing like the explosive, All-NBA force we’ve seen in the past. But the league doesn’t trade on past performance-it trades on present value.
And right now, Morant is viewed more as a question mark than a cornerstone.
So Memphis held firm. They didn’t lower their price.
They didn’t move him. And now they’re caught in a strange middle ground-rebuilding everywhere except at the most important position.
A Timeline in Limbo
This is where things get tricky. Morant is on a max contract, with roughly $87 million still owed over the next two years.
He’s not just a player-he’s a franchise centerpiece. But on a team that’s now prioritizing reps for young players and long-term development, his return creates friction.
When Morant is back on the floor, he’s going to demand the ball, the spotlight, and the offense. That’s not a knock on him-it’s just the reality of having a superstar in the building.
But for a team trying to define roles for its rising talent, that presence can muddy the waters. Are they building around Morant?
Or are they showcasing him for a summer deal? Is he the future, or just a bridge to it?
Without clarity, the locker room operates in a kind of limbo. And that’s dangerous for a rebuild that’s already walking a tightrope between development and direction.
The Risk of Waiting
There’s a case to be made for holding onto Morant until the offseason. A healthy, active Morant could boost his trade value significantly. If he returns, plays well, and reminds everyone why he was once considered one of the league’s most dynamic offensive players, Memphis could find itself with a much stronger hand.
But that’s a gamble-and the downside is real. Another injury could tank his value.
Market interest might cool. And by holding him past this deadline, the Grizzlies may have already missed their best leverage window.
Trade markets ebb and flow, and sometimes the best offer is the one you get when everyone’s still picking up the phone.
There’s also the draft to consider. Memphis is currently outside the play-in, which positions them well for a lottery pick in what scouts are calling a stacked 2026 class.
But if Morant returns and sparks a few wins down the stretch? That could push them just far enough up the standings to hurt their draft position-too good to tank, too young to contend.
It’s the NBA’s version of purgatory.
Clarity Is King
At the end of the day, the Grizzlies made bold moves. They tore down a playoff-caliber core, leaned into youth, and embraced a full-scale rebuild. But by keeping Morant, they left one major thread hanging.
This is a team that’s part rebuild, part remembrance. And that split identity could slow the very progress they’re trying to accelerate.
In rebuilds, clarity is everything. Roles, direction, expectations-they all have to align.
Right now, Memphis is missing that final piece of cohesion.
The Grizzlies spent the deadline reshaping their future. But the one move that could’ve completed their transformation-the one that would’ve tied the whole vision together-never came. And that decision might loom larger than any trade they made.