A leap in the lottery could finally help the Memphis Grizzlies generate some form of consistency on the NBA ledgers.
Though the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, the buzzer has sounded for several other teams on the Association's ledger.
As it stands, 14 teams were forced to focus on a different kind of ball during the hardwood holidays, as ping-pong balls will decide their respective fates at the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery. This year's draft class is stocked with prime talents that will hopefully lead these teams out of the mire, but it's worth analyzing how they got into these situations in the first place.
With that in mind, Ballislife looks back on the voyages of the damned, going in order of top lottery odds. Such a list flexes its claws with a look at the Memphis Grizzlies ...
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 25-57
Last Playoff Appearance: 2025
Where They'll Pick: 3rd
What Went Wrong
More Memphis meandering led to another bottoming out, a hibernation that should finally allow the team to forge a new direction.
It turned out that last year's then-shocking, late-season firing of Taylor Jenkins was just the beginning of Memphis madness on the transaction log: following an instant sweep at the hands of eventual champion Oklahoma City, the Grizzlies began a series of future investments by trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for a plethora of picks. The primary named yield was veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who mostly came off the bench before a February finger injury ended his season.
Signed off from Chicago 🐻🎬
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) May 10, 2026
Time to look ahead 👀 Season tickets available now 🤝 https://t.co/aTnYaOgnRM pic.twitter.com/bINQYjRj38
Even with twilight so obviously looming for the Grizzlies, whose 2025 playoff cameo hinted more at a purgatorial stretch that would flirt with the Play-In Tournament rather than knock on the door of the conference penthouse, they opted to have another go at it. Somewhat re-energized by the lively youth of Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells, Memphis had no trouble letting it fly, but they continued to be handicapped by the remnants of a collapsing core beyond Jaren Jackson Jr.
A Season Defined by Injuries
A mediocre start and a series of injuries (headlined by Zach Edey not making it to the new year due to ankle issues, as well as headlining offseason acquisition Ty Jerome and his 15 appearances) essentially forced the Grizzlies' hand. As a side effect of the frequent wheeling and dealing, 33 different men wound up playing at least one game in a Memphis uniform this year. A good bit of that tally will likely have no further impact on the franchise beyond this season.
The 2025–2026 campaign was another write-off for franchise face Ja Morant, who appeared in just 20 games before he was shut down in March due to an elbow issue. Morant shockingly remained on the roster after the trade deadline, but the Grizzlies wound up parting ways with another staple in Jackson, a necessary endeavor with the Utah Jazz that restocked their future cabinet.
All that and more doomed Memphis (such as dire, Jackson-less defensive efforts that ranked at or near the bottom of every major category) to its worst output since the 2017-18 season, which, ironically, started to set the stage for Morant's arrival. Though they got a late start in the chase for ping pong balls, the Grizzlies made headway in lavishly brutal style, dropping all but three of their final 24 games.
Top Silver Lining
As painful as this year was, yields from the early deals started to become apparent: Memphis originally got back the 16th pick in the last draft from Orlando, which they used to eventually land the 11th overall selection, Coward.
The Washington State alum quietly broke out amidst the Grizzlies' wallowing, standing as one of four rookies (next to Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and VJ Edgecombe) to average at least 13 points and five rebounds. Fellow former Cougar Wells took similar steps, averaging 15.4 points on 51 percent shooting in February/March before he was essentially shut down in the late portions of the latter. Their styles of play seem to mesh well with new head coach Tuomas Iisalo: for all its flaws, Memphis managed to rank in the top 10 in pace, and only three teams shot more often.
Cedric Coward put together a very impressive rookie season...
— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) April 10, 2026
Particularly strong finishing numbers. Good connective playmaking. Great positional rebounder at 6'6 with a 7'2 wingspan. Pretty shot and 84.3 FT%, expect a 3P accuracy leap in year 2. Stud. pic.twitter.com/oAzfRrLkGz
The hardships of this season recently proved to be at least somewhat worth it: the Grizzlies moved up three spots from sixth to third at the draft lottery, their largest leap since, again, the six-spot move that landed them Morant in 2019. The Jackson trade managed to keep all the remaining picks from the Orlando deal while yielding two (potentially three) first-rounders. Bane's trade, as well as a previous deal that sent Grayson Allen to Milwaukee, gives the Grizzlies three picks within the first 32 on Brooklyn's next draft board.
Looking Ahead
All eyes will turn to the fate of Morant, who took several steps back defensively in his limited time this season.
What general manager Zach Kleiman is able to do, especially considering the lack of progress at the deadline, could come to define his Memphis fate. He has landed some solid gems in all areas of the draft (another second-rounder, GG Jackson, began to resemble his rookie self after an injury-marred sophomore campaign) and has a strong stock going into the future with 11 potential first-round picks over the next few seasons.
Ja Morant walks off the floor at FedExForum, potentially for the last time as a member of the Grizzlies. pic.twitter.com/sg5Vbjhwbg
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) April 7, 2026
But Morant certainly hasn't benefitted from the recent turnover in Memphis, and it remains to be seen exactly what sort of value he can generate on the road ahead. Finding a taker for Morant's $178 million extension could prove difficult, especially with his notorious lack of reliability through factors both within and beyond his control
Elsewhere, it should be very easy to exercise a $2.4 million team option on Jackson, who has the makings of being one of the names to lead the team into the future. Other potential sources of hope include Walter Clayton Jr., a recent first-rounder and NCAA Tournament hero who proved to be a playmaker in relief after the Jackson trade, and fellow Utah transfer Taylor Hendricks, who could gain an opportunity to reclaim the narrative on his pro career if he's extended on the rookie scale.
Is There Hope?
Another verse or two of the Memphis blues might be in store as they foster some projects of both the homegrown and imported variety. But the Grizzlies might be able to pull themselves back up in a fairly reasonably timed fashion if they play their developmental cards right.
Memphis has had several tastes of hardwood success. It's easy to forget that they were the second seed on the Western bracket just three seasons ago. Creating consistency on the franchise ledger, however, should be the ultimate goal: save for a seven-year stretch between 2011 and 2017, the Grizzlies have never posted a playoff streak longer than three seasons.
The upcoming draft has several potential playmakers capable of redirecting a franchise's course for the better. Memphis has finally and willingly turned the page to a new era. Its next moves will be critical as it writes a new tune.
Past Previews
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
