The Memphis Grizzlies are in the midst of a rebuild as they head toward the 2026 trade deadline, holding onto star guard Ja Morant despite a challenging season. Following key trades involving Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, Memphis has amassed a wealth of future first-round draft picks, positioning themselves to rebuild around promising young talents like Cedric Coward and Zach Edey.
Ja Morant Remains with Memphis as Jaren Jackson Jr. is Traded
Going into the trade deadline, many expected Ja Morant to be the big name moved as tensions between the player and the team mounted, fueled by off-court issues and inconsistent play. Morant has appeared in only 20 games this season, struggling with his three-point shooting and athleticism, leading many to question his value to the team. Despite these concerns, the Grizzlies found offers for Morant inadequate and chose to retain him, with two years left on his contract and limited interest from other franchises unwilling to assume the risks associated with the volatile star.
Instead of trading Morant, Memphis focused on parting ways with Jaren Jackson Jr., shipping him to the Utah Jazz in exchange for valuable 2027 first-round selections from the Jazz, Timberwolves, and Cavaliers, as well as unprotected picks from the Lakers in 2027 and the Suns in 2031. These multiple first-round choices, some possibly highly advantageous depending on how those teams perform, bolster Memphis’s future asset pool considerably. Alongside draft picks, Memphis also acquired young players Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks, adding depth to their rebuilding roster.
Having previously traded Desmond Bane for four first-round picks and a pick swap earlier in the year, Memphis demonstrated a strategic approach. By moving Bane and Jackson at the right moments, the Grizzlies have gained a substantial stockpile of picks and young talent while avoiding the depreciation of their players’ value, a mistake that has hampered other franchises like the Chicago Bulls.
Though Morant’s current form and fractious relationship with the team cloud his future, Memphis is not pressured to trade him quickly and may be waiting for an opportunity to recoup more favorable returns. The team also conducted a minor salary move by acquiring Eric Gordon and a 2032 second-round pick swap from the Philadelphia 76ers, then promptly waiving Gordon.
Memphis Embraces Tanking to Secure Future Success
With a record standing among the lower ranks of the NBA, the Grizzlies appear to be committed to tanking in order to maximize their lottery prospects and enhance their rebuild. Despite the presence of some solid contributors like Ty Jerome, who has shown strong form since returning from injury, Memphis currently sits with the league’s eighth-worst record at 20 wins.
The Grizzlies’ recent performance, including an unusual game against the Golden State Warriors where coach Tuomas Iisalo refrained from calling a timeout that could have advanced the ball for a better shot, further signals the team’s acceptance of the tanking strategy. Memphis’s patience and willingness to trade away proven veterans without guilt contrasts with other rebuilding Western Conference teams like the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards, who mixed win-now moves with attempts to lose games but risk losing key draft picks if their records don’t fall below the top-eight lottery threshold.
This strategic pivot reflects Memphis’s objective to avoid the pitfalls of being “stuck in the middle” of the standings—a position that has long been problematic for NBA franchises. Instead, the Grizzlies are positioning themselves for long-term growth by accumulating assets and fostering young talent.
Grizzlies Earn High Praise for Trade Deadline Strategy
Memphis’s maneuvering ahead of the 2026 trade deadline has drawn positive evaluations, as the front office has deftly converted fleeting windows of value into valuable draft capital rather than holding onto potentially depreciating assets. The trades involving Bane and Jackson delivered multiple first-round draft spots, giving the Grizzlies a rare abundance of future selections, with only the Oklahoma City Thunder and Brooklyn Nets surpassing them in total picks over the coming seven years.
This careful asset management sets Memphis apart as a franchise intent on resetting correctly rather than prolonging a rebuild with middling returns. While Ja Morant remains a pivotal figure whose trajectory could influence the team’s fate in the short term, the foundation Memphis has laid suggests a recalibrated team ready to build through youth and draft acquisitions.
As the Grizzlies work through the remainder of this season and look ahead to future drafts, their blend of retained star power and strategic asset accumulation may prove crucial in steering the franchise away from past disappointments and into a more competitive phase down the line.
