Ja Morant is out for the season. Where do the Memphis Grizzlies go from here?
All of the momentum the Memphis Grizzlies have built has come to a screeching halt.
Devastating and shocking news Monday of Ja Morant’s season-ending shoulder injury and impending surgery has shifted the perception of what this season can be for the Grizzlies. With Morant, they looked like a team poised to make a run at a play-in or even a playoff spot.
Without him, it would appear to be a long shot.
Morant suffered a labral tear during a training session on Saturday. It came a day after he was one of four Grizzlies players to score more than 20 points in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The vibes felt great. Memphis is 7-4 since he made his season debut after a 25-game suspension. Now that the two-time All-Star’s season is cut short, the Grizzlies (13-23) must figure out where to go from here.
Keep going for a playoff push
Don’t expect the Grizzlies to roll over. Marcus Smart, who played nine seasons with the Boston Celtics before being traded to Memphis, has never missed the playoffs. Derrick Rose has only so many seasons left. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. are playing their best basketball.
Those players alone will rise and be vocal. The on-court results might not always match the mindsets, but the Grizzlies won’t cave in easily mentally with that leadership.
Difficult schedules offer test
It won’t take the Grizzlies long to figure out if they have a realistic chance at making a run, or if they’ll be drafting in the lottery. The next five games are against the Dallas Mavericks (away); Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors all at home; and Minnesota Timberwolves (away).
Four of those are playoff teams. The Warriors are the exception, tied for 11th in the West, but they’re getting back four-time All-Star Draymond Green before that matchup. How the Grizzlies perform during that stretch will shape their approach for the remainder of the season.
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Build the team for next season
No Morant on the court pretty much zaps the Grizzlies’ championship aspirations, so it’s time to build for the 2024-25 season. The next three-plus months should be used to evaluate talent and determine who will return when Memphis gets Morant and Steven Adams (out after knee surgery) back into the fold.
Young players like Jake LaRavia and G.G. Jackson now should get more of an opportunity. Jackson has shined in his minutes in the G League with the Memphis Hustle and could be a candidate for a standard roster spot next season. LaRavia, a first-round pick in 2022, needs to show promise in order to ensure his standing on the roster beyond this season.
Vine Williams Jr. already has shown enough to be elevated to a standard contract, but the Grizzlies will need to make a subsequent move to clear a spot. Xavier Tillman Sr. is on an expiring contract, so the team must determine if he’ll be part of the future beyond this season.
The Grizzlies have a head start on building the roster. Now’s the time to take advantage.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What are Memphis Grizzlies to do now that Ja Morant is out for season
