The Memphis Grizzlies have proven that they are still apart from competing in the Western Conference.
Looking at the rankings of Western conferences, it’s hard to imagine the Memphis Grizzlies as Memphis is currently competing.
On top of that, teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings may be able to pass them on according to their moves this summer. And the San Antonio Spurs certainly run for their money, along with healthy Victor Wen Banyama and Daron Fox.
After peaking as the second species and making play-in before eventually being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Grizzlies desperately need a re-cut roster. Ja Morant is already part of the trade rumours, and only one player is safe this offseason.
Proven by his 2023 defensive player of the year award, Jaren Jackson Jr. is one of the league’s best defenders. Evan Mobley and Wenbanyama certainly outperform him, but Jackson is still an elite defender.
This season he put together his best offensive season, tied a career-high with 22.5 points per game, and worked hard at 37.5% from the Deep.
Is Jackson Jr. the centrepiece for the title team? No, but he has the tool that will become the second best option in the league. It has shut down some of the league’s best interior scorers whilst impacting the Grizzlies offense.
He is scheduled to have a contract extension this summer and there will be a Mini Rebuild on the horizon, so Memphis will have to fire to keep him in town for a long time, even at the expense of some of the other players.
Despite not owning their own draft pick in 2025, the Grizzlies are ready to quit their successful retool this summer. Assuming JJJ is the only safe player on the roster, sudden and valuable players like Morant and Rookie Jaylen Wells are consumables.
Wells is a Rookie of the Year finalist and a very solid young player. However, no one in the 2024 draft was touted as the center of the franchise. Meanwhile, the 2025 draft is full of potential players.
Teams like the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and Brooklyn Net could be in the market for talented point guards. Morant fits the bill. Beyond Memphis, the team is interested in proven and inexpensive players. Wells fits that bill.
Even if the Grizzlies were unable to replace Morant as lead guard this summer, Scotty Pippen Jr. finished the postseason with a 28-point and 30-point outing. He is a better defender and shooter than Morant, and has been trading low-cost from 2027-28.
Of course, Pippen Jr. could also be traded. Grizzlies, despite boasting the NBA’s best two-way second option, lacks a clear star and should only be solidified as part of a plan to move forward.