The Grizzlies are off to a strong start to their rebuild and are bringing in an extremely strong draft class. While there are plenty of reasons to be excited for the future in Memphis, the Santi Aldama trade exposed a shocking reality. Not a single player remains from the promising 2021/22 team that reached the peak of the Next Gen Era.
With the trade of Santi Aldama, not a single player remains from the Grizzlies 2021–22 roster. 💔 pic.twitter.com/FIM8xh9Aac
— Grizzlies SZN (@Grizzlies_szn) July 1, 2026
It wasn't long ago that the Grizzlies were seen as the future of the NBA and that there was optimism the Next Gen Era could potentially play for a championship. Now that Santi Aldama has been traded, it's very stunning to think that not a single player from the 2021/22 team remains.
Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Dillon Brooks were seen as one of the most promising young cores in basketball after going 56-26 and reaching the second round. They also had contributors off the bench such as Kyle Anderson, Tyus Jones, and most importantly, Sixth Man of the Year candidate Brandon Clarke, who tragically passed away in May.
Not long after, the team decided to not bring back Dillon Brooks in the 2023 offseason largely due to his poor playoff performances in two straight seasons. After that point, the Grizzlies consistently struggled with injuries and got way fewer games at full strength than everyone hoped for. They also moved on from crucial veteran players, which proved to be costly.
Following a disappointing collapse in the 2024/25 season that saw the Grizzlies fire Taylor Jenkins and eventually get swept in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the split of the Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant, and Desmond Bane core began with Bane being traded to Orlando. Fast forward to now; none of them remain in Memphis.
The trades of Ja Morant and Santi Aldama this week officially sent the Next Gen Era to a disappointing ending. Despite still being just 21 years old, GG Jackson II is now the longest-tenured player on the roster, having been selected in the 2023 NBA Draft. The Grizzlies added veterans Isaiah Stewart and Jerami Grant, but the team is extremely young to start the rebuild.
It's still true that the Grizzlies remain a long way from being able to compete with teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. However, if they were going to pivot from the Next Gen Era, they are off to the dream start with promising young pieces in Cam Boozer, Zach Edey, and Cedric Coward.
The Santi Aldama trade is a sad reminder of what could have been with the Next Gen Era. However, the Grizzlies are forming a strong new identity and could potentially have their most successful era yet.
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