The Memphis Grizzlies were the premier young team in the NBA. After back-to-back competitive showings in the playoffs, their future was as bright as ever. Due to a burgeoning MVP candidate in Ja Morant, there was also optimism for their growth. However, then tragedy struck.
The Ja Morant disciplinarian actions, followed by a lengthy layoff due to injury, raise questions. What was once the most promising team in the league is now swimming in the same waters as OKC, Dallas, and Minnesota. It remains to be seen which of these three “young” teams will take the next step. But before that, the offseason has brought some good news to the Grizzlies camp.
Ja Morant is back
After a six-month recovery period, Morant is back on the basketball court. A 25-game suspension followed by a labral tear kept the young superstar on the sidelines for almost the entirety of last season. He played just nine games before being put on the shelf again.
However, in an update by head coach Taylor Jenkins, Ja is ready for full-contact work. With nearly three months left until opening day tip-off, the 24-year-old has ample time to get back into game shape.
The amount of time remaining in the offseason gives him a chance to find his MVP-caliber rhythm by the time the season begins.
“Ja, it’s go time. So very encouraged, medically cleared, full go, crossed all the hurdles,” Jenkins said. “He’s been phenomenal with his rehab; now it’s full go basketball with him with all the contact. Now it’s been more on the body, getting that back in the right spot. … We can dive into his basketball plan.”
The Memphis Grizzlies are ready to make a run
With a resurgence from Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies could be a serious force again. Already, the team has been active in making moves to retool the roster. Last offseason, they lost Tyus Jones in a genuine blow to their depth. One of the most reliable backup point guard options, Jones was essential to Memphis’s non-Ja minutes. However, the returning parcel is equally effective.
Thanks to a shrewd trade for former DPOY Marcus Smart, the team has back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year winners in Jaren Jackson Jr. Similarly, signing Derrick Rose gives the team an off-the-bench stability that was present from Tyus Jones. The main core of Desmond Bane and Steven Adams should also return as healthy as ever.
The team has a long-term answer at the center position in rookie Zach Edey. Functioning in a similar vein as Adams, Edey could be a strong rebounding process with a mean screen to set. Additionally, it fixes the rebounding hole that possessing JJJ brings.
That is without mentioning the Ziaire Williams trade to the Brooklyn Nets, which gave Memphis enough cap space to sign sharpshooter Luke Kennard to a long-term extension. This will further strengthen the team’s depth and give it some legitimate snipers around Ja Morant’s explosive driving ability.
Overall, the Grizzlies have a loaded roster going into next season. Barring calamity, they should certainly be in the thick of the playoff hunt, if not better. The only question for Memphis is how far can they go?
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