After making some transactions throughout the summer, DraftKings Sportsbook put the Grizzlies’ 2025–26 win total at 40.5.
The four first-round picks they obtained in the trade that sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic were hard to turn down, but they also regressed in the time that followed.
As soon as they acquired the assets, they used two of them to trade up in the 2025 NBA Draft to get the services of the talented wing Cedric Coward.
The national media’s enthusiasm for the selection waned when he was unable to participate in the NBA Summer League owing to a shoulder ailment.
In addition to Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies have a promising group of young wings and veterans who have joined the team.
On the other hand, things can not pan out if the season doesn’t unfold according to plan.
The asset collection would be boosted if next season fails
Any team with a healthy Ja Morant on it is expected to be competitive, even in a tough Western Conference. After the clear top three of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets, there is a group of about seven or eight teams that includes the Memphis Grizzlies, who could fall anywhere from fourth in the standings to out of the playoffs and play-in completely.
With that reality and Ja Morant’s injury history, the team could find itself on the outside looking in at the end of next season. However, the Grizzlies have the draft pick of one of the teams that isn’t expected to compete in the group with the Memphis Grizzlies for a playoff spot
One of the draft picks the Grizzlies received from the Orlando Magic is the Phoenix Suns’ 2026 draft pick. Due to protections, the Grizzlies would receive the less favorable of the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards pick if it finishes between one through eight.
The same DraftKings Sportsbook win total projections currently have the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards in the bottom five of the league in their projections.
That means the Grizzlies have a great chance to receive a high lottery pick.
Zach Kleiman, general manager of the Grizzlies, said that the team believed they needed to regroup in order to advance to a championship-contending season.
Two lottery picks will likely stay on the sidelines until the Grizzlies win their first NBA championship next season if they don’t make the playoffs.
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