Grizzlies’ No. 3 pick puts focus back on Ja Morant

The Grizzlies got a lift on lottery day.

Memphis secured the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 draft, giving the franchise a chance to add a high-end prospect after a couple of uneven seasons. It’s a significant development for a team that has been trying to find its footing again.

It also adds another layer to an offseason that already had some uncertainty.

Ja Morant has been at the center of speculation dating back to midseason, when his name surfaced in trade chatter. Nothing materialized at the deadline, but the conversation hasn’t entirely gone away.

Now, with a top-three pick in hand, the Grizzlies have options.

Morant, 26, remains one of the league’s more dynamic guards when healthy, and he helped elevate Memphis into a contender earlier in his career. He’s under contract for two more years, which could make him appealing to teams looking for a change-of-scenery candidate.

At the same time, the No. 3 pick offers Memphis a potential building block on a rookie-scale deal in what’s considered a deep class.

That doesn’t automatically mean a move is coming. But it does give the front office flexibility as it weighs whether to continue building around Morant or pivot in a different direction.

So the story out of Memphis this summer? The Grizzlies have a premium asset … and a decision to make.