3 looming issues for Grizzlies after Ja Morant and Co suffer brutal playoff sweep

On Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies became the first team to be swept in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. Though the sweep came at the hands of the team with the league's best record, the Grizzlies will nevertheless go back to drawing board as they begin their long offseason.

Among all the questions that Memphis needs to answer, there are three glaring issues that demand much of their attention. The team, coaching staff, and front office has six months to start addressing these issues before the next season tips off.

3 looming issues for the Grizzlies to address

#1 What is the future of Ja Morant in Memphis?

NBA: Playoffs-Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies - Source: Imagn

During the first round series between the Memphis Grizzlies and the OKC Thunder, some observers pointed out that Ja Morant seemed disengaged during certain possessions. Notably, this was even before he sustained a hip injury that forced him to an early exit in Game 3 and ultimately kept him out of Game 4.

With reports coming out in recent weeks that Morant had been a "Taylor Jenkins" guy up till the former Grizzlies head coach got fired, it's worth asking if the team can find a way to jumpstart Morant's enthusiasm or if they'll choose to trade away the franchise star and start over.

#2 Who will be named head coach for next season?

NBA: Playoffs-Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies - Source: Imagn

In one of the more turbulent head coaching situations in recent memory, Jenkins was relieved of his duties with nine games left on the Grizzlies' regular season slate. Tuomas Iisalo, who'd joined the Memphis coaching staff at the start of the season, was named interim head coach; in this capacity, he led the Grizzlies to a 5-4 regular season finish before the team got swept by OKC.

The question, then, is whether the front office will remove the interim tag from Iisalo, a highly accomplished coach in Europe, or go with a more established name for their next head coach.

#3 How will the Grizzlies elevate their defense?

NBA: Playoffs-Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies - Source: Imagn

While Memphis had one of the better offenses in the league during the regular season, their defense wasn't at the elite level. The Grizzlies were 11th in defensive rating, 12th in opponents' points in the paint, and 15th in opponents' three-point percentage.

Memphis will have to find ways to elevate their defense to the next level. This could entail making roster moves or finding the right coaches to build an impeccable defensive scheme.