Poll reveals Memphis Grizzlies as NBA’s least desired trade destination
An anonymous survey by The Athletic underscores the difficulty Memphis faces in attracting top talent, though financial incentives and on-court success remain key variables.
An anonymous poll of 120 NBA players conducted by The Athletic has identified the Memphis Grizzlies as the league’s least desired trade destination. The findings reveal that 35.8 per cent of respondents listed Memphis on their no-trade lists, a figure more than three times higher than the next highest city, Washington, D.C., which received 11.7 per cent of the vote.
Sacramento was the only other market to attract double-digit responses, recording 10.8 per cent. The results highlight a shared structural challenge among Memphis, Washington, and Sacramento: the difficulty of building sustained success, which historically complicates efforts to attract top free agents and makes draft and trade strategies critical for roster construction.
For the Grizzlies, these dynamics place added significance on the current offseason, as the franchise holds the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The poll suggests that while the city faces an uphill battle in recruiting elite talent, perceptions can shift based on financial opportunities and team performance, as demonstrated by previous interest from high-profile players.
Despite the negative sentiment in the poll, the Grizzlies’ current core—including Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and Brandon Clarke—began their careers in Memphis and have publicly embraced the city. This stands in contrast to some players who have expressed reservations, citing concerns such as hotel accommodations. Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, and Draymond Green are among those who have previously discussed Memphis as a less-than-ideal destination.
James and Green have also previously floated the idea of relocating the franchise to Nashville. However, Draymond Green’s own experience illustrates the volatility of player sentiment; he revealed in 2024 that he strongly considered signing with the Grizzlies in 2023 after the team finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. The reporting was provided by Damichael Cole, the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal.
