How the draft-rich Grizzlies must pivot to the post-Jaw Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. era

With apologies to Desmond Bane, the The Memphis Grizzlies have long been defined by the dynamic duo of I Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. That All-Star, All-Defense pairing brought electrifying athleticism, defensive prowess and playoff contention to a small-market franchise hungry for attention. Those days are long gone now that Danny Ainge has struck a deal with the NBA at the trade deadline with Zach Kleiman the former Defensive Player of the Year.

The next task is to find a new home for Nike’s best seller to turn it into a new era. However, thanks to a a treasure trove of failures and a flexible lid, a smart front office should be able to maneuver through the rebuild without enduring an extended charging phase. Patience and lack of expectations also help. The Grizzlies shouldn’t trade Morant for pennies on the dollar before the NBA trade deadline.

Beale Street fans should be happy to hear that, even if they won’t be expecting much from the on-field product for the rest of the season. The 2026-27 rotation is quickly taking shape and looks familiar to Grind City. Zach Edey, Santi Aldama and GG Jackson have potential as a frontcourt trio. Taylor Hendricks, the ninth overall pick in 2023, is a reclamation project. Jalen Wells and Cedric Coward on the wings will give offensive-minded opponents nightmares. Cam Spencer setting the table for Ty Jerome should keep the scoreboard operator busy on the three-point button.

Unfortunately, Edei is out for a while, so this vision will have to wait. Still, the expected post-Morant model is simple, even if Ja is on the roster for a few more months. However, point guard scouting has gotten serious; swapping Morant with Darrin Peterson or Kingston Flemings would excite fans. AJ Dibanca or Nate Ament would push Wells and Jackson to the wings.

All four incoming rookies have All-NBA potential. As things currently stand, failure to land two more bona fide All-Star talents in the next 18 months would be dire for any future competitiveness. And that’s the only way the organization can convince the fan base that this pivot away from the beloved roster is worth the effort.

Before the draft, Memphis must find the right way to use that $28.8 million trade exception before it expires. Making another short-term deal for additional first-rounders is the way to really get the hang of it in a rebuild. Dissipating that closing mechanism chasing the dream sets the rest of the process back an order of magnitude. Expect the Grizzlies to make at least one more deal before Feb. 5, but not take on any long-term money.

The next priority is finding the right short-term free agents and mid-level exceptions to get you through the rough patches next year. Memphis can’t tie up too much bad money after 2028. Think Rui Hachimura and Kenrich Williams more than James Harden or Lou Dort. Assuming Kentavious Caldwell-Pope exercises the player option to shut down Grind City, the front office will have about $138 million on the books. Perhaps soon-to-be free agents Anfernee Simmons (27), Kobe White (26), Quentin Grimes (26), Collin Sexton (27) or John Collins (28) would be worth a longer investment.

And this still might not lead to a second round. It’s a tough pivot for FedEx Forum’s most loyal fans, considering the Grizzlies were in second place last February. However, it’s a pivot the team has to sell, as going cheap now just prolongs the pain.