MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) -After a busy week for the franchise, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman met with the media Friday morning to discuss a number of topics following the NBA trade deadline.
Holding Ja Morant
The most notable headline surrounding the Beale Street Bears for the last month has been the future of Ja Morant, after it became public in January the team was entertaining trade offers for him for the first time.
All indications are Morant was more than available for trade leading up to the deadline, but no deal was struck. The former #2 pick’s value around the league is clearly at rock bottom-largely due to injuries that have allowed him to play in just 79 games since the start of the 2023-24 season.
That lack of interest league-wide to meet the Grizzlies’ asking price means Morant will be in Memphis through at least the end of this season.
“Trades take two teams, we evaluated the opportunities that were available to us at the deadline,” Kleiman said. “As we always have, we made the trades that we felt like were in the best interest of the organization going forward.
“There were not other trades that were available at the deadline that we felt were in the best interest of the organization going forward.”
One shift Kleiman would publicly acknowledge: The stance on Morant being available. At the trade deadline last year, Kleiman said the team would not trade Morant.
12 months later? Things have changed.
“We’ve been incredibly supportive of Ja for many years,” said Kleiman. “This is about organizational direction though, this is not about Ja in particular.
“All of this is grounded in organizational direction and building a team that can achieve the highest levels of success in this league.”
Morant is currently out with a sprain in his left elbow that’s not considered a long-term injury.
Now that he’s staying in the 901, will he play again this season for a Grizzlies team clearly focused on the future and trying to secure the best draft pick possible this June?
Kleiman simply said: “It’ll be a medical determination and a medical determination only.”
Ja Morant wasn't traded at the deadline after being on the block for a month.
Why?
"There were not other trades available at the deadline that we felt were in the best interest of the organization moving forward."
Why was he available?
"This is about organizational direction" pic.twitter.com/gHvRs9MOuz
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) February 6, 2026
Trading Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Morant noise over the last month has been very loud. The trade of the Grizzlies’ other franchise pillar, Jaren Jackson Jr., was a silent process that caught basically everyone off-guard.
Memphis dealt the former Defensive Player of the Year along with Vince Williams Jr., John Konchar, and Jock Landale to the Utah Jazz Tuesday for a package highlighted by three future first round draft picks, rookie point guard Walter Clayton Jr., former top-10 pick Taylor Hendricks, and a return to Memphis for Kyle Anderson.
Kleiman pointed to the phrase “organizational direction” once again in explaining the Jackson Jr. deal. He says they wanted to give this group a fair shot to compete this season, but much like previous years, injuries have largely derailed the Grizzlies’ chances and forced them to take a hard look in the mirror as the deadline approached.
“The reality of the situation put us in a spot heading into this deadline where we kind of had a fork in the road coming out of last season,” Kleiman said. “Based on the information in front of us, it was-I don’t want to say a relatively clear decision.
“But we had conviction that the pathway to building a team that can achieve higher-end outcomes involved making a move to that effect.”
Zach Kleiman on the decision to trade Jaren Jackson Jr.:
"We kind of had a fork in the road...we had conviction that the pathway to building a team that can achieve higher-end outcomes involved making a move."
"Pivoting to a younger build, we're not shying away from that." pic.twitter.com/fM2Y1RqS4e
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) February 6, 2026
The path forward
While Kleiman didn’t use the word “rebuild”, it’s clear the Grizzlies are headed in that direction.
Memphis’ future likely centers around: Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and 13 first round draft picks in the next seven years, tied for the most in the NBA.
With pieces already in the building and plenty of assets to maneuver, Kleiman believes the team is in a good position to be back in contention soon.
“The good thing about where we are as we kind of turn the page and embark on building with this group going forward: We’re not starting from scratch.”
There may be some short term pain involved in the results, but the expectation is that won’t last long.
“We already have a lot to work with,” Kleiman said. “I don’t think this is some five-year, try to be terrible. I don’t believe in that method of team-building.”
Zach Kleiman on the looming rebuild:
"We're not starting from scratch...We already have a lot to work with. I don't think this is some 5-year, try to be terrible...I don't believe in that method of team-building."
"This isn't going to be some drawn-out, 5-year process." pic.twitter.com/lteG8s5uLF
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) February 6, 2026
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