Memphis Grizzlies: A New Direction.

This off-season began with a bang. The Orlando Magic traded Desmond Bane, a 26-year-old guard. The Memphis Grizzlies are heading in a new direction after a tough postseason. The Oklahoma City Thunder swept them in four games without a fight. Leaving the organization means they must rethink their future. They should think about a big change. The team made a big change. They traded Desmond Bane for four first-round picks. Memphis also got Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the deal. Now that the Grizzlies have made a pivot out of their core three, we can see something huge this off-season.

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Zach Kleiman acknowledged the team's peak. He said, "Disappointing season, a lot to sort through here. We got 48 wins, which was good for an 8 seed, but who cares? It's not good enough." The organization wants Memphis fans and NBA fans to know it has seen a setback since the 2023 season. They are now looking to make a move in which they can compete next season for a deep playoff run. Memphis could look to flip the assets from the trade to make a major move.

One thing that this off-season has shown is that teams will give up a lot of assets for very good players. Memphis might become one of those teams looking to trade. They now have a lot of flexibility to work with. Teams could move Kevin Durant, one of the biggest names in the market right now, for a huge haul. Memphis showed interest in the former MVP at the deadline. They also looked at Jimmy Butler, who was later traded to the Golden State Warriors. Memphis prepared for the off-season by trading veteran Marcus Smart at the deadline. This move confused many fans. Now, they are also giving away Bane. Another name that has come up in the trade talks has been Trey Murphy III.

There is a new administrator in New Orleans, with Hall of Famer Joe Dumars taking over as the head of operations. He could change the organization instead of building on what David Griffin made. The Desmond Bane trade shows that teams can get a good return for top role players like Trey Murphy III. Which could excite the recently hired front office to make a move. Murphy III had one of his best seasons last year with his ability to create a shot and play off the ball. Memphis could find the fit of his next to their two stars ideal, and they got the flexibility to do so. Along with the talks of Cam Johnson, who has been on the rumor mill for a while.

The Brooklyn Nets have been active sellers since last year. They traded Mikal Bridges and Dennis Schröder during the season. Brooklyn has gotten assets from New York, which they could look to rebuild a lot faster. Cam is a player who could find himself a new home with the market being bad this off-season. Johnson is a player who is a 3&D player. He is a good wing defender along with being a talented spot-up shooter and is on a good deal. That can give Memphis the confidence to make the move. Memphis can remain in the first apron, and with his playoff experience, he can be a positive. The Grizzlies are a team with a lot of potential, but it seems like the media doesn't see it that way.

The NBA media has not been kind to the Memphis Grizzlies as of late for whatever reason. Stephen A. Smith said, "Cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel safe. I'm talking to the local authorities in Memphis." The timing is odd because the NBA Finals are an exciting matchup. The Indiana Pacers face the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kenyon Martin, the first pick in the 2000 draft, supports Stephen A. He said, “I wouldn't have wanted to play there!” The comments on their team upset Memphis fans. Their frustration makes sense. Many former Grizzlies players have expressed intense reactions to the safety concerns. Desmond Bane, Tony Allen, and Zach Randolph have come to its defense. The NBA media has not only been after the city but the players too.

Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are the talk of the town after a tough playoff run this season. Ja has faced criticism for his online antics. People are also unhappy about his lack of game development and limited availability. Jaren had an All-Star and All-Defensive year, but he still faced criticism. Many pointed to his rebounding issues and weak playoff performances. Some of what people say about the duo is well warranted, but they have made dishonest statements. Yahoo Sports writer Kevin O'Connor made a stupid comment on Twitter. He said, "Morant is somewhere around the NBA’s 40th to 50th best player. Good, not great." Kendrick Perkins called Jaren Jackson Jr. "the most overhyped player in this league. "He's not even a top 10 big in my eyes." Both idiotic hot takes show that no sense is being used. In no world are there 10 big men better than JJJ, who led the Grizzlies to 48 wins. Even if his playoff performance was underwhelming. Even with Morant hurt, it is hard to imagine that any team will ever have 40 to 50 players better than they do. Either these pundits are being dishonest on purpose or do not like watching Memphis games on TV. Next season, the duo needs to make a big splash, and the Grizzlies could surround them with more help.

Zach Kleiman kicked off the off-season strong with the Desmond Bane trade. He probably isn't finished making moves. Those four draft picks could help get a solid third option. With that flexibility, they can also work on completing the roster. Memphis might trade Cole Anthony. They have Ja and Scottie Pippen Jr., who played well in the postseason. KCP could find a team trading for him due to how flexible his contract is. Memphis is sitting on tons of young players like rookie Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey. Along with GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. as the forwards. Memphis has a good batch of young role players and could use these guys as chips in future trades. The Grizzlies had a tough end to their regular and postseason. The changes they make this off-season could help them become one of the top teams next season.

Follow @SyedNBABlogs on Twitter for NBA Content!