Grizzlies Must Trade 2 Players as Ja Morant Saga Continues

Memphis looks to move on from injury-prone Brandon Clarke and Ja Morant's off-court issues

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:24pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors like blue, orange, and purple, conveying the complex challenges facing the Memphis Grizzlies as they look to rebuild their roster.The Grizzlies' roster overhaul requires a strategic, multi-faceted approach to address both on-court and off-court challenges.Memphis Today

The Memphis Grizzlies are in need of a roster overhaul after finishing just 13th in the Western Conference last season. With star point guard Ja Morant's future in doubt due to off-court incidents and injuries, the team must consider trading him or other key players like Brandon Clarke to reshape the roster.

Why it matters

The Grizzlies were once viewed as a young, exciting team on the rise, but frequent injuries, drama, and underwhelming production have forced them into a rebuild. Trading Morant or other players could help the team acquire valuable assets and draft picks to build around a new core.

The details

Ja Morant's production has dropped in recent years, and he has become a distraction due to suspensions and off-the-court issues, including skipping his exit interview. The Grizzlies shopped Morant at the trade deadline, but his value is low due to his history of misconduct and injuries. Meanwhile, forward Brandon Clarke has been plagued by injuries, limiting him to just 72 games over the past three seasons. The Grizzlies need to move on from Clarke, who is owed $12.5 million next season, even if they can't get much in return.

  • Morant was suspended one game earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the team.
  • Clarke suffered a torn Achilles in 2022-23, a PCL sprain last season, and an arthroscopic procedure to address knee synovitis this past season.

The players

Ja Morant

The Grizzlies' star point guard who was once viewed as a future face of the league, but has been plagued by off-court issues and injuries in recent years, leading to his trade value declining.

Brandon Clarke

The Grizzlies' forward who has been one of the team's most injury-prone players, missing significant time over the past three seasons due to various lower-body injuries.

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The takeaway

The Grizzlies' once-promising young core has unraveled due to injuries, drama, and underwhelming performance. Trading Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke could help the team acquire valuable assets and draft picks to rebuild around a new core of players.