The Memphis Grizzlies are in a situation they likely did not imagine, considering where they were just a few seasons ago. This stunning twist of fate may hurt the organization, but Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has found it amusing.
Draymond Green Shares How He and Stephen Curry Reacted to the Grizzlies Trades
With a core that featured young talent such as Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Memphis Grizzlies once appeared poised to take over the Western Conference. In the aftermath of the 2026 trade deadline, however, only one of those players remains with the Grizzlies.
Brooks joined the Houston Rockets as a free agent in 2023 after being told he would not be re-signed. Bane was traded to the Orlando Magic last summer in a package that included three first-round picks. Jackson was dealt to the Utah Jazz just days ago in a deal that also included three future first-rounders.
The number of draft picks the Grizzlies received for Bane and Jackson suggests they are ready to embark on a rebuild, a move Green and Stephen Curry reportedly found hilarious. Green shared on his podcast how he, Curry, and teammate De’Anthony Melton, a former Grizzlies player, laughed after learning Jackson had been traded to the Jazz.
“We were sitting on the plane,” Green said. “And we’re laughing because I’m like ‘D**n, [Melton], the whole core of that team you had in Memphis is gone, except Ja, cause y’all were getting your a** whooped by us.'”
According to Green, Melton replied that the Grizzlies were real threats to the Warriors when that core was intact. Green then countered, saying the Grizzlies players made a mistake by talking about beating Golden State.
“Now you look at this team, and they’re about to go back through a rebuild,” Green added. “They just went through that six years ago.”
Draymond discusses the Grizzlies latest complete rebuild following the Jaren Jackson Jr trade
“The Grizzlies got 6 First Round picks back (for Jackson & Bane), signaling a complete rebuild… I said “Damn Melt, y’all whole core of that team ya’ll had in Memphis is gone, except… pic.twitter.com/7Qf1o8uM6R
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) February 9, 2026
While Morant remains with the team, Jackson’s trade is the clearest indication the franchise is headed for a full rebuild. That is notable because it had been widely believed Morant was the most likely to be moved. Instead, the Grizzlies could have kept Jackson and built around him.
Jackson is just 26 years old and has two All-Star selections to his name (2023 and 2025). He is also one of the league’s premier interior defenders, having been named Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
Another surprising aspect of Jackson’s trade is his contract situation. This season was set to be the final year of his rookie extension, which he signed in 2021. Last summer, the Grizzlies appeared intent on keeping him long term by agreeing to a new multiyear deal.
That contract was reportedly a four-year agreement worth $205,000,000. It was scheduled to take effect next season and would have kept Jackson in Memphis through the 2029-30 season.
