Grizzlies forward Justise Winslow, acquired from the Heat at the trade deadline, won’t get a chance to make his debut with his new team this summer after all. According to a press release, Winslow fell during an intra-squad scrimmage on Monday and injured his hip. The injury will force him to miss the rest of the season, per the club.
It’s a tough break for the Grizzlies and for Winslow, who had already missed the majority of the 2019/20 season due to a back injury. The 24-year-old appeared in just 11 games for Miami before being shut down, and had yet to suit up for Memphis.
Winslow averaged 12.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 4.3 APG with a .433/.375/.628 shooting line in 66 games (29.7 MPG) in 2018/19, showing impressive versatility on both ends of the court and taking on primary ball-handling duties at times.
Winslow was the centerpiece of the deadline deal that saw the Grizzlies take on Dion Waiters‘ and Gorgui Dieng‘s pricey multiyear contracts and send Andre Iguodala to Miami. The hope was that the young swingman would emerge as a long-term building block on an up-and-coming Memphis squad led by Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. If that’s going to happen, it’ll have to start in 2020/21 — Winslow has a $13MM salary next season, with a $13MM team option for ’21/22.
Although the Grizzlies got some bad news on Winslow, the club’s roster as a whole should still be healthier than it was in March before the season was suspended. Jackson and Brandon Clarke are on track to return from injuries of their own, so Winslow’s absence won’t create a major hole in coach Taylor Jenkins‘ rotation.
The Grizzlies have a 3.5-game cushion for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, but holding onto that final playoff berth won’t be easy. Memphis has one of the summer’s most challenging eight-game schedules, which concludes with games against the Jazz, Thunder, Raptors, Celtics, and Bucks.
Before that, the Grizzlies will have to face the Trail Blazers, Spurs, and Pelicans, three teams chasing them for the No. 8 seed. The Kings and – to a lesser extent – the Suns are also in the running.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
This guy has so much potential, but can’t stay on the court!
I Enjoy Heat salary dump trade at trade deadline
Heat trade 94 million salary to Grizzlies for 38 million
Winslow 38 million
Waiters 25 million
Johnson 31 million
76ers need Riley now
Nice picture, HR. “Why me?”
Not so good for the Winslow resumae: oh just got back and hip injuries from the doing my job that’s all.
Coach Taylor & the FO had the right idea though. Basically, use next year’s capspace to get a jump on getting a guy who fits the offense coach wants to run and fits with the fine rookies they just drafted, and who is the kind of guy you want in your foxhole besides.
Good luck JW.
There goes any hope we had of competing in the bubble. Oh well, there’s always next season. We can still try to develop our young guns for the future by providing them with some valuable postseason experience. This should help Ja, Brooks, Clarke, and JJJ form some chemistry
The Grizzlies won’t be competing for a playoff spot next season, this year was a fluke for them. They will be fighting the Spurs to stay out of last place in the SW division, the other 3 teams are vastly superior since the Pelicans got Zion.
Grizzlies have owned the suns head to head
Dude stop. We’re not that bad. Maybe we won’t make the playoffs next season, but that doesn’t mean our success was a “fluke.” I agree the Rockets, Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, Pelicans, Mavericks, and Nuggets are definitely better than us next season. However, the other spot is up.for grabs in my opinion. I don’t see why we can’t compete with Utah, Portland, Sacramento, and OKC.
Utah has a rather low ceiling, OKC will regress without Danillo, and Portland can’t play defense. I’ll take Ja and JJJ over Fox and Bagley any day. I wouldn’t be surprised if we missed the playoffs altogether, but we’re not some run of the mill doormat like Minnesota.
Ever since our dismal 6-16 start, we’ve gelled as a team and improved vastly on defense. Taylor Jenkins is an excellent coach and we’ve had our share of injuries as well. We haven’t even seen Winslow yet, while JJJ and Clarke were missing down the stretch. I’m not going to pretend we’ll even be above .500 next season, but this team is known for playing above expectations. Give us a chance before immediately writing us off
Going to be hilarious when the Grizzlies make it to the finals before Harden and Westbrook do with the Rockets.
I would cry tears of joy if that happened
I forgot they even had Winslow. He needs to stay on court. At 24 he could be a gd fit there. Clarke, Winslow, JJ jr, Valanciunas. That’s a descent front line. It’s young too. Brooks has played well. Josh Jackson comes around. There’s definite talent there. Morant is ROY. They can find rotation player in draft this yr. I can see them playing for playoff spot. Plus only getting better. Morant is for real, a Star.
The fit being, Taylor wants playmaking from the 3. A good idea since 3s are taller for better passing angles to get the ball inside. It’s actually a bit much for small 1s who would benefit from concentrating on speed and 2s in shooting, in theory.
A PG who stands & looks may get himself subbed out!