With Ja Morant's return approaching, here are three Memphis Grizzlies roster options

Newton’s Third Law of Motion will soon factor into the Memphis Grizzlies’ roster.

The Grizzlies must react on Dec. 19 to the action of adding superstar point guard Ja Morant back from a 25-game suspension. Morant’s potential return outweighs the ramifications of losing a player on the 15-man roster, but this will still be a tough and crucial decision.

Bismack Biyombo was added to the Grizzlies’ roster after the fifth game, and he has started 15 of his 17 appearances. Initially, it seemed that Memphis would add a player who would just be dropped when Morant returns, but Biyombo has done enough to make the Grizzlies at least consider other options.

Trading, releasing or waiving players are among the choices, but each can be difficult. Most of the Grizzlies’ standard contracts are guaranteed beyond this season, meaning the release of any of those players could have salary cap and luxury tax consequences. With Desmond Bane's max contract kicking in during 2024-25 and the second year of Morant's max deal, Memphis will likely begin next season in the luxury tax, which is designed to create spending penalties for teams significantly over the salary cap.

Waiving a player is very similar to a release, but the difference is other NBA teams will have an opportunity to pick up a waived player over a 24-hour period. If another team claims a waived Grizzlies player, Memphis will no longer be on the hook for that contract.

What about a trade? Well, December trades in the NBA are as common as two-dollar bills.

Memphis can’t use a two-way player or contract since those players do not count against the 15-man roster, and Jaylen Nowell’s 10-day contract via an injury hardship exception is expiring after Wednesday’s game against the Rockets.

Here are some options Memphis must consider.

Letting go of Kenneth Lofton Jr.

Keeping Biyombo would give the Grizzlies two experienced centers in addition to Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama’s ability to play the five. With those four players in the rotation, Memphis could opt to let go of Kenneth Lofton Jr.

Lofton has rarely seen the floor this season despite putting up staggering numbers with the Memphis Hustle in the G League. He won G League Rookie of the Year last season and was expected to make a jump into this season’s Grizzlies rotation. Despite recently losing 20 pounds, Lofton has played only 6.6 minutes per game this season after averaging 7.3 as a rookie.

Waiving or releasing Lofton wouldn't carry the drawn-out financial impact of some others. Even though he signed a four-year contract near the end of last season, Lofton's $2 million in 2024-25 in non-guaranteed, according to Spotrac. Memphis would just eat what remains of Lofton's $1.7 million salary this season if it chose to let go of him.

BEING A PROFESSIONAL: Memphis Grizzlies' Kenneth Lofton Jr. working weight down with hopes playing time goes up

Admitting a first-round draft mistake

It's not uncommon to have pride in a sport like basketball, and releasing a recent first-round pick would be an admittance of a draft mistake. The Grizzlies drafted Jake LaRavia two seasons ago with a first-round pick, and he is yet to have a sustained role. He's the only remaining player from the Grizzlies' 2022 rookie class who hasn't started an NBA game.

Like Lofton, LaRavia has put up tantalizing numbers when playing with the Hustle. The difference, however, is Lofton had 42 points and 14 rebounds in his lone start at the end of last regular season. LaRavia hasn't scored double figures since Nov. 20 of his rookie season in 2022, so Memphis is still waiting to see him turn into the difference-making 3-point shooter the team drafted him to be.

With all that being said, it's highly unlikely that LaRavia goes anywhere. He has dealt with injuries, and it is too soon to come to a verdict on what he can be. Memphis is also contractually tied to him through the 2024-25 season.

The Grizzlies picked up the rookie scale options on LaRavia, Santi Aldama, Ziaire Williams and David Roddy before the season. LaRavia will make more than $3.3 million guaranteed next season, which would create a sizeable dead cap.

Williams is another former first-round pick who has been in and out of the rotation, but he's scheduled to make more than $6.1 million next season. In other words, unless the Grizzlies can find the rare December trade partner, Williams and LaRavia are highly unlikely to be waived or released because of the resulting financial implications.

Bismack Biyombo's 20-game run ends

Signing Biyombo for a temporary stay was the expected outcome before he recorded 10 or more rebounds in his first four starts and gave Memphis a jolt in the frontcourt. Biyombo's numbers have fallen closer to his career averages since the hot start. His streak of consecutive starts ended at 15 on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks. Still, he has been an asset to the Grizzlies' frontcourt.

If Memphis determines that Lofton's long-term value is worth the investment, parting ways with Biyombo and eating his remaining salary for this season would make sense.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant returns: Memphis Grizzlies roster change options