Have the Memphis Grizzlies Already Found Their Point Guard of the Future?

The Memphis Grizzlies are approaching a summer that could redefine the direction of the franchise.

Uncertainty hangs over the organization, but it does not automatically signal dysfunction. Memphis still possesses a collection of young, controllable talent and full command of its own draft capital. The larger question — the one that will shape everything else — centers on Ja Morant.

Morant remains the most recognizable name in the building and, at his best, one of the league’s most explosive guards. Yet around the league, expectations are growing that Memphis could explore trade scenarios this offseason. If that unfolds, the return package may not resemble the type of haul typically associated with a franchise cornerstone. His trade value, fairly or unfairly, has likely softened.

Assume for a moment that Memphis does move on.

That decision would immediately shift the conversation to succession planning at the most important position on the floor. Does the next long-term point guard already reside on the roster, or is he still to be drafted?

There are internal options worth evaluating.

Ty Jerome has quietly established himself as a legitimate starting-caliber guard. He is averaging 19.3 points and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 39.5% from three-point range — production that commands attention. At 28 years old, Jerome sits squarely in his prime. The calculus becomes philosophical. If Memphis commits to a longer rebuild, Jerome could be leveraged for additional draft capital. If ownership prefers a rapid retool rather than a prolonged reset, he provides stability, shot creation, and spacing.

Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cam Spencer, both 25, represent a different tier of projection. They are age-appropriate contributors with developmental runway, but neither profiles as a high-usage offensive engine. Both operate most effectively as combo guards — capable of defending, spacing the floor, and providing secondary playmaking. On a competitive roster, they project cleanly as rotation pieces alongside a primary initiator.

That nuance matters.

If Memphis secures a top-three selection in the upcoming draft, the positional calculus changes. A prospect like Cameron Boozer would introduce frontcourt playmaking that could ease pressure on the backcourt. AJ Dybansta, conversely, would intensify the need for a true lead guard capable of orchestrating offense. Darryn Peterson represents a more balanced pathway, offering scoring punch with developing playmaking instincts.

Outside the top three — a more probable landing spot — the Grizzlies may find themselves searching more aggressively for a long-term answer at point guard if Morant departs. In that scenario, Pippen Jr. and Spencer remain valuable, but likely as complementary pieces rather than foundational pillars.

The broader strategic question is timing.

Memphis is not a franchise that typically embraces extended, multiyear tank cycles. Small-market realities often demand quicker pivots. If lottery luck breaks in their favor, the organization may determine that a retool — not a teardown — is the optimal route.

But until Morant’s future is resolved, everything else remains theoretical.

The Grizzlies could emerge from this summer with a clear backcourt identity — or enter next season still searching for one.