(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
No team struggled more with injuries this season than the Memphis Grizzlies.
Ja Morant missed the first 25 games of the season with a suspension before suffering a campaign-ending injury, Marcus Smart was barely able to play, they traded Steven Adams after he couldn’t even suit up, and so on.
Even so, and regardless of their record, Taylor Jenkins always had his guys ready to play, with a makeshift roster of players going in and out of the rotation due to injuries.
With that in mind, and considering their core of players, the Grizzlies aren’t that interested in adding more young talent to their ranks.
That’s why it’s not much of a surprise to see that they want to trade their No. 9 selection.
According to Zach Lowe of ESPN (via Evan Sidery), the Grizzlies want to add a win-now piece, and they think they can compete at the highest level when they are healthy.
The Grizzlies will shop the No. 9 overall pick in trade talks for a win-now player, per @ZachLowe_NBA (https://t.co/C8GNLFKV3T).
Memphis internally expects to compete near the top of the Western Conference next season after dealing with countless injuries. pic.twitter.com/rdH3POVzWL
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 14, 2024
That’s not far-fetched to think at all.
Desmond Bane has blossomed into one of the best shooters in the game.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is a former Defensive Player of the Year who’s yet to reach his prime, and Ja Morant is also one of the best scorers and passers in the game.
This is one of the weakest draft classes in recent history, and there’s a considerable drop-off in talent after the top several picks.
The Grizzlies should fare much better once they get their stars back to full strength, and they have more than enough money and assets to get creative and bolster their roster.
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