Ja Morant, Tyus Jones and the value of a great Memphis Grizzlies backup point guard | Giannotto

The goal Ja Morant listed above all others as soon as the Memphis Grizzlies' playoff run ended is not necessarily a goal in the best interests of Tyus Jones.

“It’s a focus of mine to be out there every game next season,” Morant declared during his exit interview with reporters last month.

Therein lies the most pressing dilemma and decision facing the Grizzlies when the NBA’s free agency period officially begins Thursday afternoon. Jones, their most significant free agent, is a fulcrum in determining how active they will be, and perhaps how much they believe Morant can live up to those words.

2022 NBA Draft haul: Memphis Grizzlies 2022 NBA Draft haul suggests more to come this offseason

Warriors validate Grizzlies: Klay Thompson called out Jaren Jackson Jr. and it validated these Memphis Grizzlies

If Morant’s career follows the arc of this past season, when he missed nearly 30%  of the team’s games, having a player like Jones is almost required.

As Morant himself acknowledged, his injuries this past year came from “weird steps. It was pretty much nothing I could do about that,” he said. “It was moves I normally do every time I step on the floor.”

Is that fluky or a sign he’s susceptible to injury? The answer can’t be known yet.

If the Grizzlies view Morant as an injury risk, Jones is too valuable to let go. He averaged 12.7 points and 6.6 assists in 23 games as a starter.

If they don’t, there could be options; some including Jones, some not.

This isn’t about wanting Jones back. The Grizzlies probably do want. It’s about what a great backup point guard is worth.

Jones is coming off a career year, combining his trademark assist-to-turnover ratio wizardry (7 to 1) with a career-best 39 percent mark from 3-point range. He then came through with the most consequential playoff performances of his career, particularly when the Grizzlies beat Minnesota in the first round.

But paying a backup point guard at a substantial rate is a choice that can’t be made lightly.  Not with Jaren Jackson Jr. making $28 million this season; not with Morant’s max rookie extension about to be signed; and not one year away from extension talks with Desmond Bane. Not with Dillon Brooks and Brandon Clarke eligible for their own contract extensions.

Mt. Moriah Halle Park: Ja Morant shows up at Mt. Moriah Halle Park, helps 13 courts get refurbished across Memphis area

Backup point guard options: NBA free agency stacked with backup point guard options for Memphis Grizzlies. Here are 5 options.

The $20 million or more in potential salary-cap space Memphis has to work with this offseason won’t be there long.

I’ve argued since the season ended the Grizzlies don't need to make rash moves. They gave the NBA champion Golden State Warriors so much trouble despite never being completely healthy during their second-round series. They’re going to get better from within. Don’t mess with a good thing.

It could be trending in that direction, despite the draft-night trade of Melton. Several of Jones’s potential suitors – Detroit, New York and Washington – made moves for lead guards in the past week. His market isn’t nearly as robust as it seemed a few weeks ago. The Grizzlies might be able to keep him with their mid-level exception (about $10.2 million per year) on a short-term deal.

It’d be a bargain should he and Morant continue to play as well together as they did last season.

They had a net rating of 11.6 in the playoffs and closed out games against Minnesota. It was up from a 9.8 net rating during the regular season, when there was no meaningful Grizzlies backcourt pairing with a better net rating than the one Morant and Jones produced in 194 minutes over 33 games. It’s the highest net rating and most minutes played in their three years together in Memphis.

But there were three backcourt combinations during the playoffs – Melton and Bane, Morant and Bane, and Jones and Bane – that performed better, according to net rating.

The argument against Jones is that Morant's minutes increase in the postseason, muting the second-unit steadiness Jones brings. If Jones is the playoff starter – and therefore Morant is hurt – the Grizzlies would be vulnerable to the same fate that befell them against Golden State. It wouldn't matter if they had the best fill-in starter in the league.

While Jones might be a good pairing with Morant, wouldn't the ideal fit be a bigger guard who can handle point guard duties and knock down open shots – like Jones can – but also better support Morant’s weaknesses defensively? Memphis still needs to fill the role Melton couldn't these past two postseasons.

PODCAST: Thoughts on Memphis Grizzlies draft and potential free agency moves

Grizzlies owner: After 10 years, Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera is a lot better than the unknown

The Grizzlies also traded up to draft Memphis native and former Tennessee star Kennedy Chandler, a point guard who will presumably serve as Morant's backup someday. Jenkins was non-committal about that happening this season, saying only Chandler would get the opportunity to compete for playing time like every rookie during his time with the franchise.

"I look forward to diving in with him," Jenkins said when the team introduced its four rookies last week. "This is an important summer for all these guys."

If that was a clue into how important Jones is to Memphis, and to Morant, it should be apparent soon enough.

You can reach Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto via email at mgiannotto@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter: @mgiannotto

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant, Tyus Jones and value of great Memphis Grizzlies back-up PG