u/dcthesnapper

Zach Randolph started his career in Portland, famously coined the Portland Jailblazers at the time. He made some mistakes, bounced around the league and turned it all around in Memphis.

JA started his career in Memphis, made some mistakes, and is now a member of Portland Trailblazers, could this be the inverse ZBO redemption story?

I truly hope so for his sake.

This script has been written before, the has been told, over , and over, and over. The media hype up top players, team’s somehow come to a consensus with the media on some of the top guys. And inevitably, some players won’t live up to those expectations, while some actually out performing their draft position.

If this holds true for the 2026 NBA draft, who from the top 3 is most likely to live up to the pre draft expectations? If some players outside of the top 3 has your attention, you can mention the as well.

Hear me out.

The Hawks originally drafted Trae Young over Luka because they wanted a true star — someone who could energize the city and become the face of the franchise. Trae had some incredible moments in Atlanta, but now that he’s in Washington, the Hawks are clearly entering a different phase and still searching for that next centerpiece. And it seems they’ll want to build on the momentum from this season. Is it best to do that with a rookie guard or a vet?

That’s where Ja Morant becomes interesting.

When Ja is healthy and engaged, he’s still one of the most explosive and impactful players in the NBA. The injuries and off-court situations have obviously complicated things, but it also feels like something became disconnected between Ja and the Grizzlies organization over the last couple years. He hasn’t looked like the same version of himself emotionally or mentally.

I honestly think Atlanta could be the perfect reset for him.

It’s a bigger market, closer to home culturally and geographically, and it feels like a city that would fully embrace Ja’s personality and style of play. From Atlanta’s perspective, turning the No. 8 pick into a proven star might be more valuable than hoping that pick eventually develops into one. I’m aware JA is not the same and it’s a risk. But is it a risk the Hawks would be willing to take?

My proposal:

- Hawks receive: Ja Morant + No. 16 pick
- Grizzlies receive: No. 8 pick + No. 23 pick

For Memphis, this wouldn’t just be about draft picks. It would signal a full shift toward a new core centered around Zach Edey and the No. 3 overall pick moving forward. It would also give the Grizzlies more flexibility to reshape the roster and timeline.

For Atlanta, it’s a gamble on a player who still has superstar-level talent when everything is right.

Am I crazy, or does this actually make some sense for both sides?