The Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic shocked the NBA world with some massive trade news earlier in the day. Orlando acquired guard Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies in a blockbuster deal, breaking up the core group in Memphis.
More NBA news: Magic Land Desmond Bane From Grizzlies in Blockbuster Trade
With Bane now in Orlando, there are a lot of questions around the other stars in Memphis. Both Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. could net the Grizzlies strong trade packages, but whether they want to completely rebuild remains unknown.
But the four draft picks that Memphis got in this deal could be game-changing. The Grizzlies are now set up very well for the future.
However, NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor believes that Memphis should consider blowing up the roster after this move. O’Connor mentioned the Grizzlies being in the middle of the pack within the NBA, which could prompt at least consideration.
If I’m the Grizzlies I’d consider blowing it up completely now. Trade Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson to the highest bidders. Tank in 2026 for this loaded draft class.
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 15, 2025
The Grizzlies were swept out of the playoffs this year and looked like a shell of themselves by the time the postseason came around. Memphis fell in the standings toward the end of the year, and this offseason was already going to be a crucial one.
With Bane now gone, the Grizzlies will need to figure out if they want to move forward with the Morant and Jackson Jr. pairing. Jackson Jr. is eligible for a massive extension this summer, and how the Grizzlies play things could tell a lot about where they view everything.
More NBA news: Grizzlies Star Jaren Jackson Jr Loses Chance at Massive Payday
Memphis has seen some success with this core group, but they never lived up to the hype. The Grizzlies reached the second round of the playoffs once with this group, but had title expectations for a few years.
Bane seemed to be the odd man out from the shortcomings, and now the Grizzlies have a lot of work to do. Blowing up the roster likely won’t solve anything, and moving forward with Morant and Jackson Jr. could be interesting.
This change to the roster could make them more well-rounded, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope giving them more defensive focus. Memphis has relied upon explosive offense for so long that this could be a turning point for them.
Putting Caldwell-Pope with Jackson Jr. on the floor could give Memphis a stronger path to contention. Adding in rookie Jaylen Wells also provides some hope for the future.
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