The Grizzlies will continue to be without guards Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart for several more weeks, the team announced in a press release.
Bane is progressing well from a Grade 3 left ankle sprain he suffered on Jan. 12 game against the Clippers. He is expected to return to play during the next three-to-five weeks, per the Grizzlies.
Bane was in the midst of a career year prior to the injury, averaging 24.4 points, 5.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds in 37 games.
Smart, who sustained a left finger/hand injury during a Jan. 9 game against the Mavericks, will continue to wear a splint for another three weeks, per that club. He will be reevaluated at that three-week mark.
Acquired from the Celtics during the offseason, Smart is averaging 14.5 points and 4.3 assists in 20 starts with Memphis.
The injury-ravaged Grizzlies return Friday from the All-Star break with a 20-36 mark, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Smart is eventually shut down.
It’s better to sit out Bane, Smart, and JJJ for the rest of the season. This season grizzlies has been cursed with injuries and the Ja Morant situation. But the bright spot of the season is the young players in the team. Guys like zhaire, vince, scottie pippen jr., santi, and gg jackson have been playing incredible. I think its time to tank for the 1st pick and get Alex Sarr or Matas Buzelis.
Memphis will be a better team next season. With ja, bane, clarke, smart healthy and the addition of the incredible play of the young guys this year plus the upcoming top 5 pick for this year draft (wether we keep it or trade for a superstar). Will be back in the top of the standings in the west next season
It’s a tank job for this season. I doubt you see either until next year
Bane and Jackson jr should do what everyone else is doing and sit out the rest of the games for the season and tank, develop the bench and start fresh next season
Trade idea. Memphis trades Smart(flip), Luke Kennard, Zhaire Williams and GG Jackson to Portland for Ayton, Thybulle, Kris Murray and Banton with a future protected 1st or 2nds instead
memphis loses that trade so bad, Ayton doesnt try, Thybulle cant make a layup, Murray doesnt play, and Banton is awful. Why would Memphis trade for that
I agree Ayton doesn’t try but he would in Memphis I am sure. Ayton and Thybulle are both Morant, Jackson and Bane’s age. Thybulle doesn’t need to score surrounded by the others. Murray can play back up minutes and Banton would be a 3rd string PG playing no minutes. All Memphis loses is a expensive back up PG in Smart, Zhaire and Kennard who don’t play well there and the only young player they have in GG Jackson. Memphis would gain a pick or two. It gives Memphis a center and a defensive SF. You didn’t look at what they are giving up. The only I don’t like is Ayton’s contract
The problem with Ayton is that he really doesn’t love basketball. He’s just a tall athletic guy who wants to make a lot of money. If he had the passion and desire of Joel Embiid, he’d be a monster on the court.
Why would Portland do that, unless Memphis is throwing in this years number 1 pick and next year’s 1st round pick. Then maybe, but I doubt it.
I’m a Portland fan. I don’t see GG as an asset. He dropped to 45th. Everyone knows why. Nobody wants a player like him in the organization. We’re not in a situation where we’re just trading valuable players for the sake of trading. All we want from the Grizzlies is JJJ. Other players are meaningless. But nobody is going to trade JJJ, right?
Working their way up the draft order. Not enough games to tank to get Sarr tho.
Jordan Goodwin is about to put up some nice numbers for Memphis. Bad team with plenty of available minutes is just what the doctor ordered for this guy.
So the Grizzlies are officially tanking. Boy, they are going to be dangerous next year. They are adding a lottery pick in the next draft and also have two strong 2nd round picks. Scary good next year. Hopefully, Ja Morant is ready to lead his team.
I think, why do these fans believe that the players will be healthy next year? There’s no guarantee that they won’t have a similar season with injuries next year. The Grizzlies’ situation is already very dire, and I anticipate next year will be a season with even more pressure than necessary.