The dawn of a new era begins in Memphis after trading former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz last season and moving two-time All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason.
The Grizzlies will turn to fresh faces to turn around a team that finished with 25 wins during the 2025-26 season. The dismal record landed Memphis the No. 3 pick in the 2026 draft, and the franchise selected Duke standout Cameron Boozer, who is believed to be a franchise-changing prospect.
Along with Boozer, Memphis will build around its youth with Cedric Coward and Zach Edey returning for their third and second seasons, respectively. Isaiah Stewart and Quinten Post were also added to the roster this offseason.
The Grizzlies will certainly look different during the 2026-27 season, but will old problems still arise?
ESPN's staff of experts is looking back at the offseason and taking an early look at the 2026-27 season for all 30 teams, with 30 pieces -- one for every team -- rolling out each weekday through Sept. 18. We're answering the biggest looming questions, evaluating X factors and much more for all 30 teams.
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Offseason at a glance
Key additions: F Cameron Boozer (No. 3 pick), G D'Angelo Russell, F Isaiah Stewart, F Jerami Grant, F Kris Murray, C Quinten Post Key retentions: None Key subtractions: G Ja Morant, F Santi Aldama
Memphis finally traded Ja Morant, turning the last page from an ultimately disappointing chapter in franchise history, and already has his replacement as the face of the franchise in place: No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer. GM Zach Kleiman has overhauled the roster in the past few transaction cycles, acquiring four first-round picks when he traded Desmond Bane, a few more when he dealt Jaren Jackson Jr. and none for Morant, whose departure signaled a fresh start for the Grizzlies and him. Memphis is in a full-blown youth movement, as 21-year-old forward GG Jackson is now the longest-tenured player on the roster. The Grizzlies say they believe they have a long-term foundation in place with their last few lottery picks: center Zach Edey, small forward Cedric Coward and power forward Boozer. -- Tim MacMahon
Zach Kram's offseason grade: B
Memphis shuffled its big-man rotation, adding Isaiah Stewart and Quinten Post while trading Santi Aldama, but the team's biggest move this summer was finally trading Morant. The Grizzlies didn't get much in return -- Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, with no draft picks included -- but they shouldn't have expected to, given how far Morant's stock had fallen over the past few years.