Memphis Grizzlies Rebuild
Memphis Grizzlies Trade Santi Aldama to Dallas, Acquiring Picks and Guard AJ Johnson in Rebuild
Key Points
The Grizzlies' roster turnover after the trades has left GG Jackson as the longest-tenured player on the roster, signaling a new internal leadership dynamic as the team rebuilds.
Santi Aldama underwent an arthroscopic knee procedure in mid-March 2026, providing context for why his 2025-26 season was shortened beyond the reported knee injury.
AJ Johnson, the Grizzlies’ trade addition, was a 2023 first-round pick and has two years left on his rookie contract, highlighting Memphis’s continued accumulation of young, cost-controlled talent.
Memphis currently has at least 18 players on standard contracts (potentially 19 with Richie Saunders) with a maximum of 15 on standard contracts once the season starts, illustrating ongoing roster consolidation during the rebuild.
The Memphis Grizzlies traded forward Santi Aldama to the Dallas Mavericks on July 1, 2026, ending his five-year run with the team that drafted him. Sports Illustrated reported Memphis gets back guard AJ Johnson, a protected 2030 first-round pick via Golden State, and two future second-round picks, plus Tarik Biberovic's draft rights head to Dallas.
The deal is part of a sweeping rebuild in Memphis. Just days earlier, the Grizzlies sent franchise star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers. With Aldama now gone, 21-year-old GG Jackson is the longest-tenured player on the roster — a striking sign of how fast this team has changed, according to Audacy.
Aldama's Knee Injury Shaped the Timing of the Deal
Aldama averaged 14.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in 43 games during the 2025-26 season. But on March 14, 2026, Memphis doctors confirmed he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The procedure ended his season early. He has two years left on his contract, with a team option for 2027-28.
NBA.com noted Memphis was reluctant to commit long-term to a big man with knee concerns during a rebuild. Dallas saw it differently — a chance to buy low on a versatile stretch forward. Aldama said on Instagram his "recovery is ahead of schedule" and he is "ready to contribute to a championship run in Dallas."
Memphis Collects Young Talent and Future Draft Capital
AJ Johnson, the centerpiece of the return, was a 2023 first-round pick. He has two years left on his rookie contract, giving Memphis cost-controlled talent through 2028. Grizzlies executive Zach Kleiman said in a press release that Johnson is "a player we have tracked since the 2023 draft."
The protected 2030 Golden State pick could be especially valuable. By then, the Warriors' current core will likely be long retired, making it a potential lottery pick, according to ESPN analyst Kevin Pelton. Memphis also receives two future second-round picks, adding more depth to their draft stockpile.
Dallas Adds a Veteran Forward Around a Rebuilding Core
For Dallas, the move fills a clear need. ChatSports reported the Mavericks view Aldama as a crucial addition for the 2026-27 season. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said Aldama provides "a unique blend of size and shooting that fits our system perfectly."
Dallas also secured the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic, a 2023 draftee still playing for Fenerbahçe in Europe's EuroLeague. International scouts view Biberovic as a hidden asset. The Mavericks now hold two European prospects in their pipeline alongside Aldama, leaning into a global roster-building approach.
Grizzlies Face a Roster Crunch With 18 Players Under Contract
Memphis has a math problem. The team currently has 18 players on standard contracts — possibly 19 if Richie Saunders is elevated from a two-way deal. NBA rules require teams to cut down to 15 players before opening night. That means more trades or roster cuts are coming soon.
The financial picture is cleaner, though. Memphis is projected to pay $0 in luxury tax in 2026-27, down from a projected $22 million before the Morant and Aldama trades, according to Spotrac. That cap room gives the front office room to take on contracts from other teams in exchange for even more draft assets — a classic rebuild move.
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