The Memphis Grizzlies plan to bounce back after a lost season, but there is plenty of uncertainty. Ja Morant has recovered from shoulder surgery and is ready for training camp. The 25-year-old’s injury history is well-documented, but Memphis cannot afford for him to miss time.
Beyond being their best player and offensive engine, the Grizzlies are thin on lead ball-handlers. Derrick Rose is the only other primary point guard on their roster. The former MVP is in the final stages of his NBA career and has played just 77 games combined over the last three seasons. Memphis cannot count on him to be in the nightly rotation. Marcus Smart will be the second-unit ball-handler, but the Grizzlies options are thin behind that.
The pressure is on for this player on a two-way contract to shine during training camp and earn a standard pact. Memphis will likely wait to convert him until midseason, but the 6’1 guard could solve a need and shows significant improvements nearly every time he takes the floor.
Grizzlies need Scotty Pippen Jr. to play his way onto their roster
Pippen Jr. saw 21 games with Memphis last season primarily down the stretch as the injuries mounted. The 23-year-old averaged 14.8 points, 4.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in 26.6 minutes per contest over the final 12. It is a small sample, but it certainly piqued the Grizzlies’ interest.
Pippen Jr. dominated during summer league, including showing off some improved ball-handling. The Grizzlies lost in the finals to the Heat, and the 6’1 guard stood out on both ends of the floor.
He is undersized and turns the ball over too much, but Memphis has no other options. Morant, Rose, and Smart will need to miss games. Fans hope that number stays small, but those times will occur. The Grizzlies need Pippen Jr. to fill in.
He can only play in 50 games under a two-way contract and would be ineligible to compete in the postseason. The franchise may need more than that, which puts pressure on Pippen Jr. to step up during training camp. He must earn his place on the 15-man roster and continue improving his game.
Scottie Pippen Jr. rightfully drew plenty of buzz at the end of last season and in summer league. Can he become a reserve point guard in the NBA? Memphis helped Tyus Jones blossom and made Ja Morant into a superstar. They are no strangers to developing point guards, and Pippen Jr. has plenty of potential. It is all about putting it together.
The Memphis Grizzlies will be a team to watch all season. Was last year a fluke or does the franchise have a serious problem on their hands? Ja Morant is elite, but only when he plays. The Grizzlies need more games from their star and the right supporting cast around him to make a deep playoff run.
The plan is in place, but they will need reinforcements. Scotty Pippen Jr. may be a key member of that group, but only if he shines during training camp.