Whether fans think it is the right decision or not to move on from Ja Morant, any possible trade will still be a pivotal moment for the fanbase. Whoever the Grizzlies select at #3 between Cam Boozer or Darryn Peterson will have massive shoes to fill if Morant gets dealt this summer.
It wasn't long ago that the Grizzlies went 56-26 and made it to the second round in 2022. The hope was for that season to launch the Grizzlies into multiple years of contention and potentially play for their first NBA championship. Fast forward to now, and the Grizzlies are staring at a new rebuild that will likely continue without Ja Morant.
The Grizzlies simply have to nail the #3 pick
There are multiple things that went wrong as far as coaching and roster construction. But it was starting to become increasingly clear that a Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. trio was unlikely to win the Western Conference. Bane and Jackson Jr. netted the Grizzlies significant draft capital, and now a Morant deal could materialize soon.
While a Morant trade will not land the Grizzlies as good of a return as the Bane and Jackson Jr. trades, now feels like the most logical time to fully commit to a new core and direction. Morant still has plenty left in the tank as a playmaker, but missed games and a multi-year decline in shooting efficiency make it increasingly difficult to justify the remaining two years and $87 million on his contract.
Still, even though a trade makes plenty of sense for basketball reasons, it will put immense pressure on whoever the Grizzlies select at #3. Building a winning core is the main priority; however, it will also be important for the next franchise cornerstone to resonate with the city of Memphis.
Ja Morant remains beloved on and off the court in Memphis, and that should still be the case after any potential trade. However, the #3 pick will have massive shoes to fill right away and face extremely high expectations, especially given the strength of the 2026 NBA Draft class.
If the pick at #3 is one of Cam Boozer or Darryn Peterson, it will be essential to connect with the city and be a driving force in building an identity on and off the court. It will also be crucial for the selection at #3 to get off to a productive start in the league and be an immediate source of hope.
There still remains a lot to look forward to even though any possible Ja Morant trade will be a bittersweet moment for many. The hope is that the Grizzlies will find their franchise cornerstone with the #3 pick in this year's stacked 2026 NBA Draft class.
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