What’s Next for the Memphis Grizzlies After Brutal First-Round Exit?

What’s Next for the Memphis Grizzlies After Brutal First-Round Exit?

MEMPHIS — The Memphis Grizzlies are officially in soul-searching mode.

A day after being swept out of the playoffs by the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, Grizzlies president Zach Kleiman didn’t sugarcoat the reality facing his team. Despite a 48-win season, Memphis barely scraped into the postseason as the 8th seed — and Kleiman made it clear that it wasn’t nearly good enough.

“Forty-eight wins. Good for an eighth seed. Who cares? It’s not good enough,” Kleiman said bluntly at Sunday’s end-of-season press conference.

Now, the franchise faces a long to-do list: hiring a permanent head coach, deciding the future of the core roster, and addressing why a team that was once second in the West freefell into the play-in tournament.

Coaching Carousel

Memphis needs to decide if interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, who took over midseason, is the right fit to lead them forward. Multiple players, including superstar Ja Morant, gave Iisalo positive reviews for his basketball IQ and approach to film study.

“I feel like Tuomas is a good coach,” Morant said. “He sees the game like I see it. It’s been exciting working with him.”

Still, no decision has been made — and Kleiman emphasized he will be taking his time to “digest everything” before announcing any moves.

Injury Woes Continue

Ja Morant’s health loomed large over the Grizzlies’ downfall. After battling injuries all season and missing 32 games, Morant suffered a hip contusion late in Game 3 against OKC, a game Memphis once led by 29 points. Without Morant, the Grizzlies couldn’t hang on and ultimately dropped the series in four straight games.

Morant, still on crutches during Sunday’s media availability, was clear: if not for the injury, the series might have played out very differently.

“That win right there [in Game 3], could have made it totally different,” he said.

Core Players and Contracts

Memphis must also decide whether to run it back with their Big Three — Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. — or explore changes.

Kleiman acknowledged that while this core has shown flashes of greatness, it hasn’t translated into postseason success, with only one playoff series win over the past four years despite two No. 2 seeds.

Jackson, meanwhile, is eligible for a contract extension this summer. Though he expressed his desire to stay in Memphis, he punted any contract talk to his agent, grinning and saying, “Next question.”

Big Picture: Rebuilding or Reloading?

For now, there are more questions than answers.

“There’s so much good,” Kleiman said. “At our best, you can see what this group can be. But clearly, there’s a lot to figure out.”

Whether that means continuity or sweeping changes remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the Grizzlies’ front office won’t be resting this offseason.

Memphis has the talent to compete — now it’s up to leadership to ensure the pieces fit before another season of potential slips away.