A Chicago-based agent has floated the idea that the Memphis Grizzlies could consider trading down from the No. 3 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, potentially also moving on from star guard Ja Morant. However, this scenario is widely viewed as overly aggressive and unlikely.
Grizzlies president Zach Kleiman’s track record tells a different story. He has consistently favored moving up in the draft or acquiring additional picks rather than trading down. Last June, Kleiman executed a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers to swap picks, ultimately selecting Cedric Covard at No. 11 overall. That move serves as a key reference point for understanding Memphis’s likely strategy this year.
Trading a core player like Morant alongside a high draft pick is extremely rare in NBA history. If the Grizzlies were to part ways with Morant, a standalone trade — without bundling a top-three pick — would be far more probable. Kleiman’s pragmatic approach to team-building suggests he is unlikely to sacrifice both immediate talent and future assets in one deal.
As the draft approaches, Memphis’s final decision remains uncertain. But based on the front office’s historical tendencies, moving up or keeping the No. 3 pick is far more likely than trading down.