The Memphis Grizzlies have decided to reset. The Grizzlies added three draft picks in the trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. Did they get enough for one of the top defensive players in the NBA?
Western Conference Team Increases Draft Capital At Trade Deadline, Now Has 3rd Most Future First Round Selections
Memphis, which has the 13th most wins this decade, sent Jackson Jr., along with three other veterans, to Utah for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, and Taylor Hendricks. The Grizzlies also added three draft picks, but none this year. They did get two 2027 draft picks: the 2027 Los Angeles Lakers (top-4 protected) and the most favorable of Cleveland/ Minnesota/ Utah. They also received Phoenix’s 2031 unprotected selection.
While the trade of Jackson Jr. was a surprise, it is likely a good decision for the Grizzlies to start the rebuild now rather than later. It gives first-year coach Tuomas Iisalo time to adjust his coaching philosophy to the Grizzlies’ roster.
Memphis sits in 11th place in the Western Conference at 20-29 and is just two-and-one-half games behind Portland for the final play-in spot. The Grizzlies picked up their second straight win last night with a 129-125 victory over Portland to move within two games of the 10th-place Trail Blazers.
High Expectations Not Reached
The Grizzlies entered the season with the expectations of competing for a top-6 spot in the Western Conference after winning 48 games last season. The Grizzlies had reached the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, though they only made it out of the first round once.
However, injuries have destroyed the Grizzlies continuity. The Grizzlies just got Ty Jerome back, though Scotty Pippen Jr. still hasn’t made his season debut. Ja Morant, who has only played 20 games this year, is out until at least the NBA’s all-star break due to an elbow injury. Iisalo’s pace-and-space offensive system hasn’t fully taken hold. In addition, their bench scoring has been inconsistent, and their defensive communication has suffered with the second unit.
Speaking of Morant, Memphis couldn’t find a trade partner despite lowering its asking price. Since the Grizzlies plan to revisit trade talks this offseason, it will be interesting to see whether Morant plays again this year. He is under contract through 2027-28.
“You’re committing to several years, and if it doesn’t work, you’re probably carrying that contract until it’s an expiring at least,” one league source told Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal about Morant’s trade market. “Most teams would want to be compensated just to take that deal on, whether they believe in Morant or not.”
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