After a long and grueling 82-game stretch, the Memphis Grizzlies have officially reached the end of the road on the 2023-24 campaign. Unfortunately for them, Sunday's finale against the Denver Nuggets closed out just like the vast majority of their games during the year -- with a big fat L.
On the bright side, however, with their season officially over Zach Kleiman and company can now focus their attention on bettering the team's odds of having a much brighter and more successful 2024-25 and beyond, and, more likely than not, their efforts in trying to do so will involve several players from this year's roster being sent packing.
Memphis Grizzlies players who definitely won't be back next season
Though the usual suspects of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. will without question be back donning the navy, blue, and gold threads next year, there's an argument to be made that virtually everyone else on Taylor Jenkins' squad could be parted with, and there are a few players, in particular, who will almost certainly be residing outside the 38103 in a matter of months.
4. Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose's return to his old collegiate stomping ground has fallen well short of preseason expectations.
From inconsistent play to nagging injuries, with every passing day this season the veteran seems to have fallen further and further away from even his Sixth Man of the Year nominated self from 2020-21, let alone his MVP days back in 2010-11.
Now, with a year left on his minimum contract, there's an argument to be made that the franchise has already seen enough to make them consider cutting ties with the veteran, and the emergence of players like Scotty Pippen Jr. only further strengthens the sentiment that Memphis should call off the experiment with Rose.
At a price-hit of just $3.3 million next season, the Grizzlies opting to waive Rose to clear out a full-time roster spot and playing time within the main rotation for someone like the aforementioned sophomore seems very doable.
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