Memphis GM Zach Kleiman opens the door on star Ja Morant's future as the Grizzlies reset their franchise direction and evaluate every player.
As the Memphis Grizzlies pivot into a new phase, general manager Zach Kleiman made it clear that the organization’s reassessment extends to every level of the roster — including its most recognizable star.
Following a trade deadline that reshaped the franchise and sent longtime cornerstone Jaren Jackson Jr. out of Memphis, Kleiman addressed the future of Ja Morant in unusually measured terms, framing the conversation around organizational direction rather than individual circumstance.
Kleiman emphasized that the Grizzlies’ evaluation of Morant is part of a broader process tied to long-term vision.
“We’ve been incredibly supportive of Ja for many years and this is about organizational direction, this is not about Ja in particular,” Kleiman said.
Morant’s profile and influence, Kleiman acknowledged, naturally amplify attention when the team makes sweeping changes.
“I understand that Ja is Ja and there’s more attention I guess kind of paid to that,” Kleiman said. “But all of this is grounded in organizational direction and building a team that we believe can achieve the highest levels of success in this league.”
While Morant remains under contract and on the roster, Kleiman stopped short of reaffirming him as an untouchable cornerstone — a notable shift from previous seasons. Instead, he described a framework in which every player is continually assessed through the same lens.
“Yeah, Ja remains a member of the team,” Kleiman said. “We evaluate all of our players and we have and will continue to on whether they’re taking consistent actions that lead to consistent positive outcomes for the team.”
Kleiman added that Morant is not being treated differently than any other player as Memphis recalibrates its trajectory.
“With Ja and everyone else on the team we will carry forward with an open mind of whether the fit is there,” he said.
Communication, Kleiman stressed, has remained direct and ongoing amid the uncertainty.
“We’ve had and will continue to have constructive and honest conversations, with Ja and with Ja’s camp,” he said.
Kleiman was also asked whether Morant is expected to play again this season, declining to project a timeline while deferring to the medical staff.
“It’s a medical determination,” Kleiman said.
Morant is currently sidelined with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow and is expected to miss at least the next three weeks. The injury occurred during Memphis’ 124–122 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, and the team announced Saturday that the two-time All-Star would be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks.
The injury represents the latest setback in an uneven season for Morant. He had recently returned from a six-game absence caused by a right calf injury, rejoining the lineup in a 126–109 win over the Orlando Magic in London before suffering the elbow injury days later.
Including the latest absence, Morant has appeared in just 20 of the team’s 43 games this season. He is averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists amid weeks of trade speculation and organizational transition.
The comments came after weeks of speculation surrounding Morant’s future as the Grizzlies weighed major roster decisions. Ultimately, Memphis chose not to move Morant at the deadline, even as it dismantled the core that previously carried the franchise into contention.
Kleiman framed that restraint as consistent with the organization’s principles, not a declaration about permanence.
For years, Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. formed the backbone of Memphis’ rise from a rebuilding team into a playoff fixture. Injuries, availability issues and uneven results over the past two seasons, however, forced the front office to confront whether that version of the team still had a viable path to championship-level outcomes.
By tying Morant’s future to organizational alignment rather than star status, Kleiman signaled that the Grizzlies are entering a phase defined by flexibility and open-ended evaluation. Morant remains one of the league’s most dynamic guards, but whether he is central to what comes next remains intentionally unresolved as Memphis charts a new direction.