After being diagnosed with a torn labrum that will require season-ending surgery, Grizzlies guard Ja Morant told his teammates in an “emotional” meeting on Tuesday to “stay locked in and keep grinding,” Desmond Bane tells Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
The Grizzlies, who were also missing reigning Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. due to a right knee contusion, responded on Tuesday with an impressive 120-103 victory in Dallas, their third straight road win over a Western Conference rival. Head coach Taylor Jenkins called it “one of the most impressive team wins of the season,” per MacMahon.
“We have nothing to lose,” guard Marcus Smart said. “Especially without Ja, everybody’s counting us out. Everybody’s expecting us to just lay down and quit, and that’s not what this team is about and not in our heart.
“… We’re going to fight. That’s all we can do. That’s what we know. We’re going to fight until we can’t fight no more. And that’s all you can ask — for you fight to the end, because we understood that coming into the season the odds against us and things have affected our team. We understood that this might not be a year where everything is expected of us, but it’s a year for us to damn well get right for next year as well.”
As his Grizzlies teammates look to continue battling for a play-in spot without him, Morant is in the process of deciding – along with the Grizzlies’ staff – which surgeon will perform his shoulder surgery, according to MacMahon.
Here’s more on the Grizzlies:
- Smart exited Tuesday’s win in the third quarter due to a dislocated right ring finger. The finger isn’t broken, but Smart will undergo an MRI when the team returns to Memphis, tweets Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com.
- Speaking to Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal, orthopedic surgeon Brian Schulz explains how a labral tear occurs and what Morant’s recovery process will look like. According to Schulz, while Morant will be able to begin physical therapy almost immediately following his surgery, a typical return-to-play timeline for this sort of injury is approximately six months, which is why the club has already ruled him out for the season.
- ESPN’s experts take a look at how Morant’s injury will impact the team, with Kevin Pelton pointing out that drafting in the 2024 lottery could put Memphis in position to add another young player to its long-term core at a relatively team-friendly price. Bobby Marks, meanwhile, notes that next year’s roster projects to be in the tax if Luke Kennard‘s team option is exercised, which could impact the Grizzlies’ trade deadline plans with Kennard and/or others on the roster.
- Mark Deeks of HoopsHype explores what the Grizzlies could do with the disabled player exception they’re likely to be granted as a result of Morant’s injury, and explains why that exception is more likely to simply expire without being used.
If anything we could at least get one or two players on the bench to develop into something.
Ja Morant and “down time” aren’t the best combination…
Grizz players already talking about getting ready for next season. That locker room has completely given up. Brooks was the problem though.
They should only look at next season indeed and look to get that lottery pick.
My point of view:
– Trade non-essential players for expiring contracts + picks
– Take on expiring salary in the DPE for cash+picks
And rest any player with minor injuries like Smart.
You don’t see a problem with franchises openly tanking even before the All Star break? Before Trade deadline? I mean even the guys in Detroit aren’t talking like they are in Memphis. They are completely defeated and it’s over one guy.
Too me that spells bigger problems going down the road but I’m not an NBA coach
I disagree with Hoopshypes view and think those trade exceptions have a good value and could/should be used in a salary dump.
Let them take on Oladipo’s 9.1 million for 6.36 million in cash and a 2nd rounder. 2.74 million for a 2nd rounder is a good price compared to last season.
Houston wants a player back so this could be in a three-team scenario.
Same could happen with other players that are then waived or bought out.
After such a trade Memphis could even package Kennard and Oladipo and maybe some of the other players to take on a bigger expiring salary like Fournier or Bertans.
Sucks for Ja, but this is arguably a blessing in disguise for the Griz. Get a nice 1st rounder and reload for next year.
Like I said “Lottery pick”
That was an impressive win over Mavs.