The Memphis Grizzlies have an opportunity to do what the Oklahoma City Thunder have done over the last seven years. It is no secret that the Grizzlies have recently made some major roster moves. Fans are still trying to process everything (and rightfully so), given how much these changes will alter the dynamic and culture of the team. However, at the end of the day, the NBA is a business, and the Grizzlies need to figure out how to play the game of long-term chess.
Although it isn’t a perfect apples-to-apples comparison, there are other teams across the league that have hit the reset button and rebuilt around young, emerging talent. One team that has done so recently, and arguably the most notable of them all, is the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since the 2019 NBA Draft, the Thunder have selected 12 first-round draft picks. Some of these selections are still playing on the team, though most of them were traded elsewhere, helping the Thunder acquire the pieces necessary to assemble their present roster.
How the Thunder were built
OKC had to go back to the drawing board just a few short seasons ago. It’s hard to picture that now, considering they are fresh off a championship and sit comfortably toward the top of the NBA standings, but this is a wonderful example of a successful rebuild.
After some very dominant years in the 2010s, the Thunder's front office felt it was time to make some roster changes. They decided to shift their focus toward a youth-centric model, with a goal of developing players together and capitalizing on top talent coming out of college.
In 2019, the Thunder traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for 9 assets, which included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a first-round draft pick that ended up being Jalen Williams in 2022. Of course, at the time, the Clippers didn’t know that Gilgeous-Alexander would become the player that he is today, but hindsight is 20/20.
Then, a week after the Paul George trade, OKC traded Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul, two first-round draft picks, and two first-round swaps. Oklahoma City’s front office recognized Houston’s desire to move on from Chris Paul’s contract while adding a complementary piece alongside James Harden. Russell Westbrook’s younger age and perceived higher trade value also factored into the deal.
This was a smart business move, as the Thunder used their leverage to gain even more draft capital. That said, Westbrook was a major part of OKC’s team identity. He was there for 11 years, an eight-time All-Star, and set multiple records for the franchise.
Sam Presti, the General Manager of the Thunder, had nothing but good things to say about Westbrook, but both parties knew that it was time for a change. With that, a new era began in Oklahoma City, and six seasons later, it all paid off when they raised the championship banner.
Oklahoma City created a blueprint for Memphis
After the recent trade deadline, the Grizzlies now have 11-13 first-round draft picks over the next seven years. That is huge! Only the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder currently have more during that same time period. Because of this, Memphis has a chance to utilize the OKC blueprint to build their own championship-caliber team.
Of course, there is a risk that comes along with rebuilding. The Grizzlies do have a lot of upcoming first-round draft picks, but who will they choose? How will these future teammates mesh with the rest of the group? Players coming out of college are young and have a lot of room to grow, though it often takes a little bit of time to see them reach their full potential. The outcome could elevate the team if the fit is right but could also fall short of expectations if the chemistry never completely develops.
The 2026 draft class is shaping up to be particularly strong, giving Memphis an opportunity to capitalize on incoming talent. Along with one first-round pick they currently own, the Grizzlies could also secure a lottery draft pick, though doing so would require the team to miss the playoffs.
This new era for the Memphis Grizzlies will not come to fruition overnight. There will likely be some growing pains along the way, but it’ll also be exciting to see how it all plays out. The combination of future draft capital mixed with the talent they already have on the roster puts this team in a strong position to succeed. The blueprint is there, but it’s up to Memphis to write the rest of the story.