The Memphis Grizzlies proved that they are still several pieces away from competing in the Western Conference.
Looking at the Western Conference standings, it’s hard to imagine the Memphis Grizzlies, as they are currently contending, rivaling any of the teams ahead of them in the standings.
On top of that, teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings might be able to pass them, depending on the moves they make this summer, and the San Antonio Spurs, with a healthy Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, will certainly give them a run for their money.
After peaking as the second seed and ultimately making the play-in before getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Grizzlies are in dire need of a re-tooled roster. Ja Morant has already been included in trade rumors, and only one player should be safe this offseason.
Jaren Jackson Jr., evidenced by his Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023, is one of the best defenders in the league. While Evan Mobley and Wembanyama have certainly surpassed him, Jackson is still an elite defender.
This season, he put together his best offensive season as well, tying his career-high with 22.5 points per game while shooting a solid 37.5% from deep.
Is Jackson Jr. a centerpiece on a title team? No, but he has the tools to be the very best second option in the league, shutting down some of the league’s best interior scorers while impacting the Grizzlies’ offense.
He is due for a contract extension this summer, and with a mini-rebuild on the horizon, Memphis should shell out to keep him in town long-term, even if it comes at the cost of some of their other players.
Despite not owning their own draft pick in 2025, the Grizzlies are poised to pull off a successful re-tool this summer. Assuming that JJJ is the only safe player on the roster, suddenly high-value players like Morant and even rookie Jaylen Wells are expendable.
Wells is a finalist to win Rookie of the Year, and is a very solid young player. However, no one in the 2024 draft was touted as a franchise centerpiece. The 2025 draft, meanwhile, is full of players with that potential.
Teams like the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, and Brooklyn Nets could be on the market for a talented point guard. Morant fits the bill. Teams ahead of Memphis in the standings would be interested in a proven, cheap player. Wells fits that bill.
Even if the Grizzlies are unable to replace Morant as the lead guard this summer, assuming they trade him, Scotty Pippen Jr. ended his postseason with a 28 and 30-point outing. He is a better defender and shooter than Morant, and is on a low-cost deal through 2027-28.
Of course, Pippen Jr. could also be traded. The Grizzlies lack a clear star despite boasting the best two-way second option in the NBA, and only Jackson Jr. should be cemented as a part of their plans moving forward.
