Ja Morant's time with the Memphis Grizzlies may be coming to an end. The team is rebuilding around Cameron Boozer, their No. 1 overall prospect from the 2026 NBA Draft.
What happened?
The Grizzlies acquired Boozer with the No. 3 pick and also selected Mexican wing Karim López at No. 21 and seasoned 3-and-D wing Richie Saunders at No. 32.
The Grizzlies need to break up with Ja Morant, who spent most of last season injured and is now "flagrantly available" in trade talks, per ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Why it matters for Ja Morant
Morant's injury and personality concerns make him a wild card, but he's less expensive than other stars, with a year less on his deal.
The Grizzlies will likely need to attach draft capital to move on from Morant, who is a total wild card at this stage.
What comes next?
The Grizzlies are exploring trade options, including a potential deal with the Boston Celtics involving Jaylen Brown.
This trade would require the Celtics to take on Morant's contract, which carries less baggage than Brown's, but also substantial injury and personality concerns.
The Celtics would acquire four first-round picks from the Portland Trail Blazers and the Grizzlies, plus prospects Taylor Hendricks and Yang Hansen.
The Grizzlies would get Jerami Grant and Scoot Henderson, who could present a long-term point guard solution on the cheap.
Another potential trade package involves the Miami Heat, with Andrew Wiggins picking up his $30.2 million player option, becoming a valuable expiring contract for the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies are looking to start over, building their roster around Boozer and embracing the Grit n' Grind standards of yore.
The team's future hinges on how these deals reshape their roster and culture, with Morant's fate uncertain as the team moves forward.
The Grizzlies' front office will need to make some tough decisions to rebuild the team around Boozer and create a winning culture.
Only time will tell if the Grizzlies can successfully rebuild and create a winning team around their new star, Cameron Boozer.