Grizzlies GM Sends Clear Message on Team's Future Amid Ja Morant Report

The Memphis Grizzlies’ 2024-25 campaign was supposed to be a bounce-back year after a disastrous season in 2023-24 that saw them miss the playoffs entirely. Instead, the team found itself plagued by many of the same issues — injuries, inconsistency, and growing uncertainty around its future.With Ja Morant missing significant time due to injury and the supporting cast unable to carry the load, Memphis struggled to ride on its pre-All Star game momentum.

Though the Grizzlies fought their way into the Play-In Tournament and secured the No. 8 seed, their postseason was short-lived. They were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round — a bitter end to another underwhelming year.



Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12)© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Turmoil extended beyond the court. In a surprising move, head coach Taylor Jenkins was fired with just nine games remaining in the regular season, despite the team sitting in the No. 4 spot at the time.

Trade rumors have begun to circulate around the franchise's top players. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. have both been mentioned in early offseason speculation, and the future of the Grizzlies' core is suddenly in question.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon said on the Hoop Collective Podcast there is "whispering and rumbling" around the league pertaining to Morant's availability.Amid all of this, general manager Zach Kleiman addressed the media about how the season went.“I don’t think we can look back at this season and say we’re close.

No, we’re not,” Kleiman admitted.Zach Kleiman: “I don’t think we can look back at this season and say we’re close. No, we’re not.

”— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) April 27, 2025For a team once seen as a rising power in the West, the Grizzlies now face difficult decisions. With a roster that needs reshaping, the direction Memphis takes this summer could define its next chapter.Related: Ja Morant Makes First Post After Unfortunate Injury NewsRelated: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Sends Clear Message About Future With Grizzlies.