Grizzlies Notes: Morant, Jerome, Offseason, Coward

Since winning 48 games in 2024/25, the Grizzlies have traded away Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. and appear to be embarking on a full-fledged rebuild after posting a 25-57 record this season. Will star point guard Ja Morant be the next veteran on the move this summer?

General manager and executive VP of basketball operations Zach Kleiman was noncommittal on Monday when asked about Morant’s future with the team. As Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal observes, the fact that he didn’t refer to the two-time All-Star as a franchise cornerstone represented a notable departure from his remarks in past end-of-season pressers.

“I’ll reiterate Ja has been a pro,” Kleiman said. “Ja has been a pro behind the scenes the last few months here. We have had open dialogue, we’ve had respectful dialogue. I think everyone is on the same page as much as they can be in this situation. I’m not going to speculate on potential transactions.”

Like Morant, reserve point guard Ty Jerome was limited by injuries in 2025/26. But the 28-year-old, a free agent addition last summer, was excellent in his 15 outings, averaging 19.7 points and 5.7 assists in just 22.6 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .474/.420/.875. While Jerome would likely have real value on the trade market this summer, Kleiman suggested the veteran guard remains part of Memphis’ plans going forward, according to Cole.

“I think we were all impressed with the balance Ty was able to strike as a scorer and as a facilitator,” Kleiman said. “He’s a very good basketball player. Of course, we see what he can be as part of this group.”

Here’s more on the Grizzlies:

• Kleiman acknowledged on Monday that there’s plenty of work still to do to turn the Grizzlies’ roster into one capable of contending, but he’s optimistic about the foundation already in place and the assets the team has on hand to keep building. “I’m confident that this is going to be a group people can rally around and be excited about going forward,” he said, per Cole. “I think if you zoom all the way out and look at the group of young players we already have, coupled with having as many first-round assets as nearly anyone in the league, it’s going to speak for itself soon.”
• After another injury-plagued season in Memphis, Kleiman suggested that the team will look this offseason into whether changes can be made within the organization to improve player availability and durability, according to Cole. “Every season, we look at the entire operation and make sure we’re doing what we can to put the group in the best possible spot going into the following season,” he said. “We’ll do that this offseason just like we always do.”
• A bright spot in a forgettable season for the Grizzlies, rookie wing Cedric Coward has made a case for a place on the All-Rookie first team, Cole writes in another Commercial Appeal story. The 11th overall pick averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game on 47.1% shooting across 62 contests. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo lauded Coward for his contributions to winning, noting that he’s “just scratched the surface of what he can be,” while veteran big man Taj Gibson said on Monday that Coward reminds him of a “young Jimmy (Butler),” per Jonah Dylan of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
• In his preview of the Grizzlies’ offseason, Bobby Marks of ESPN examines some of the decisions facing Kleiman and the front office this summer, including what to do with Morant. Marks also observes that swingman Jaylen Wells will be extension-eligible beginning in July and could sign an extension of up to four years if the team declines his 2027/28 option as part of a deal.