Grizzlies, Pelicans May Relocate When NBA Expands

[ad_1] The Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans have been mirror pictures of one another of late.

Each golf equipment boast talented-if-mercurial-and-injury-prone multi-time All-Stars from the 2019 NBA Draft, in Grizzlies level guard Ja Morant and Pelicans energy ahead Zion Williamson. Each groups have discovered some postseason success over the previous couple of years, and had been anticipated to construct upon that with deep runs by now.

Neither has achieved a lot within the playoffs (Morant has gained a single playoff sequence, Williamson has by no means been wholesome for the playoffs), and each golf equipment are trying lottery-bound as the remainder of the Western Convention has handed them by.

Extra information: Grizzlies’ Ja Morant Slammed by Former All-Star After Loss to Lakers

The Grizzlies are off to a mediocre 4-6 begin to the younger 12 months, good for simply the No. 10 seed within the West. The two-6 Pelicans, in the meantime, appear like one of many worst groups within the convention.

One other massive challenge for the Grizzlies and Pelicans? Each quantity among the many smaller markets within the league, and whereas Memphis has managed to construct a fanbase, New Orleans has by no means successfully taken a foothold locally — maybe, partially, on account of its struggles to construct a constant successful tradition.

<img id="11017033" alt="" caption="MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 22: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies interact during the second half at FedExForum on October 22, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)" credit="" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="3000" height="2000" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Zion-Williamson-Ja-Morant-Grizzlies-Pelicans.jpg?w=640&quality=75&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Zion-Williamson-Ja-Morant-Grizzlies-Pelicans.jpg?w=750&quality=75&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Zion-Williamson-Ja-Morant-Grizzlies-Pelicans.jpg?w=1000&quality=75&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Zion-Williamson-Ja-Morant-Grizzlies-Pelicans.jpg?w=1200&quality=75&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Zion-Williamson-Ja-Morant-Grizzlies-Pelicans.jpg?w=1360&quality=75&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Zion-Williamson-Ja-Morant-Grizzlies-Pelicans.jpg?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Zion-Williamson-Ja-Morant-Grizzlies-Pelicans.jpg?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1"/> Nonetheless, FedEx Discussion board numbers have been scaling down currently. Per Chris Mannix of Sports activities Illustrated, Memphis ranked twenty sixth out of 30 groups in house attendance for the 2024-25 NBA season. Morant, warts and all, is the primary attraction, and he has sat out 21 or extra video games throughout every of the previous 4 accomplished seasons.

This 12 months, Morant seems to be at odds with new head coach Tuomas Iisalo. After being caught taking key performs off throughout a 117-112 loss to the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers final week, Morant appeared to shade Iisalo's teaching selections, to the purpose the place the Grizzlies suspended him for a sport. Now, rival golf equipment are circling and contemplating a commerce. Morant could also be a depreciated asset, however when dialed-in, he is nonetheless a star.

Mannix notes that the league is eyeing enlargement to handle clear NBA curiosity within the rising Las Vegas market and in Seattle (which has been with out an NBA membership since 2008), however that it may additionally as a substitute search to maneuver particularly the Grizzlies or Pelicans to these locales.

"And the Grizzlies, frankly, must promote these tickets. Whereas enlargement is the NBA’s most well-liked technique to get groups in Seattle and Las Vegas, relocation has been mentioned, as NBA commissioner Adam Silver advised SI final month. And whereas no league official would come inside 100 miles of publicly naming relocation candidates, the Grizzlies and Pelicans—small-market groups with area offers that expire earlier than the tip of the last decade—are sometimes whispered because the probably targets."

Williamson, in the meantime, has been even much less wholesome since making the professionals. He has solely performed greater than 30 video games twice throughout his six-season NBA profession. The proficient Duke product's availability and health have been the supply of fixed stress for his franchise. He has already suffered his first damage setback this season, and was just lately shelved for at the least per week with a strained left hamstring.