Last night the Grizzlies gave out a difficult update on Scotty Pippen Jr., who had just missed the last three games with right-toe discomfort. Now, he will be undergoing a sesamoidectomy to address the discomfort and will miss the rest of the season.
Sources: Grizzlies PG Scotty Pippen Jr. will miss the rest of the season. He’ll undergo a sesamoidectomy to address ongoing discomfort in his right big toe. He’s averaged 10.6 points on 48% overall and 39% from 3, 4.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 3 seasons with Memphis pic.twitter.com/a8SF46AStk
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) March 13, 2026
The news is difficult to deal with because Scotty Pippen Jr. underwent the same procedure back in October for his left big toe. Pippen Jr. returned in February and was averaging 11.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists after 10 games. He was giving the Grizzlies reliable point guard play, as Ja Morant has not played since January due to a left elbow UCL sprain.
Unfortunately, Pippen Jr. will miss the rest of the season, and the questions about the Grizzlies' backcourt going into this offseason only continue to grow.
The Grizzlies have a clear guard logjam they have to address
In order to balance out the roster, it is clear that the Grizzlies will have to really consolidate the roster due to the logjam of guards. The Grizzlies currently have Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr., Ty Jerome, Cam Spencer, and Walter Clayton Jr. under contract for next season. Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack are also on two-way contracts for the Grizzlies.
It is clear that the Grizzlies cannot keep all their current guards. There is a clear need to boost the frontcourt depth and to add another proven scorer despite the Grizzlies having plenty of young talent. The Grizzlies also have two first-round picks in a stacked 2026 NBA Draft, and their second-round pick should also be a top-35 pick.
What comes next for the Grizzlies' backcourt?
Ja Morant's future in Memphis is going to easily be the biggest topic of conversation this offseason. Despite Morant staying put at this year's deadline, he has not appeared since the Grizzlies' January 21 loss to the Hawks at home due to a left elbow UCL sprain suffered in the 4th quarter. The Grizzlies will certainly listen to offers for him again, but his future is not the only one at stake among the guards.
Ty Jerome has been incredible since he made his Grizzlies debut. Jerome is a logical veteran to help the Grizzlies early in their rebuild, but the team could potentially sell high on him too. Cam Spencer has made a significant leap in his second season and is one of the best perimeter shooters in the NBA.
Walter Clayton Jr. has struggled since arriving in Memphis, and Javon Small has been very impressive while being on a two-way contract. Pippen Jr.'s latest injury adds confusion with his team option coming up in the 2027 offseason. Pippen Jr. is a very reliable player on both ends of the floor, but it is fair to question his future past his current deal.
The Grizzlies already have multiple decisions that they have to make in order to cut down the guards on the roster. Scotty Pippen Jr. is a very reliable player and has the grit that many Memphis fans love. However, his latest injury paired with his surgery in October could cloud his Memphis future too. Regardless, a complicated backcourt situation just got even more difficult to navigate.