The Memphis Grizzlies have seen a lot of change in the past year, but one player, Ja Morant, remains from the team that finished second in the West in 2022. Morant used to be one of the next great players in the league, but injuries and some questionable off-court decisions have changed that trajectory. He, though, is only 26 years old, but the question remains the same: Will he be able to return to his past performance after all the injuries he has gone through? Whether Memphis thinks he can or can’t get back to that level, he could be wearing a different jersey starting next season.
There were rumors that the Grizzlies were trying to move him at the trade deadline this season, but couldn’t find any suitors. The main reason for this is his massive five-year, $197,230,450 contract. Combine this with inconsistent availability, and it’s no wonder a trade has been challenging. A rebuild looks to have already begun with Memphis trading away Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic last offseason and Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz at the deadline this season. The main assets they got back in those deals were not players but draft picks.
The Grizzlies’ trades show that they seem to be leaning towards the future and wanting to move on from the mess they’ve been in for the past few seasons. Memphis owns the third pick in this year’s NBA draft, which is hyped as one of the most stacked in recent history. They are projected to take Cameron Boozer with their top pick this year, and he could officially start the rebuild. He would be a great player to build around, as he is a do-it-all forward with amazing upside.
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Morant’s name will likely resurface in trade rumors again this offseason, but who knows what the Grizzlies have planned. They would most likely want draft picks in return for a Morant trade, similar to the Bane and Jackson Jr. deals. They probably won’t get as much value for Morant as they did with the other two players because of his injury history. A major culture shift could happen if he gets traded due to the numerous new faces that would arrive in town.
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