3 Players The Grizzlies Should Consider With Their Next Hardship Exceptions

I won’t say it as this seems like one of those situations. You know the ones I’m talking about? The ones where you say something like, “I don’t see this getting any worse”…

Only to find—I don’t know—another player injured by way of a piano dropping on their head. I mean, that’s the kind of injury luck the Grizzlies have had this season. Why not a piano I ask you?

This has all the makings of one of those so I’m going to keep my snarky comments down a tad. But after losing Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane—one for the season and two at least 6 weeks—it feels…

Well it feels like that may be where we’re at. As such, the Grizzlies look to perform the same ole’ song and dance again. The same ole’ song and dance they’ve already done earlier this season.

Yes, Memphis stands to apply for further hardship exceptions after the week from Hell. Now, a quick recap for those of you uninitiated in the CBA. Here are this exception’s qualification criteria:

• have four players—at least—who are unavailable due to illness or injury
• each of those four players have missed—at least—three consecutive games
• expect each of those four players to remain out—at least—two more weeks

If each a team meets each, the league will award them a hardship exception. This allows them to sign a player to a 10-day contract, exceeding their 15 man roster count. Teams are also exempt from the two 10-day limit when signing guys with the hardship rules.

This is important to note as it means you can sign a guy to as many 10-days as you want… long as you meet the above criteria.

Here’s where that puts Memphis. Steven Adams, Morant, Brandon Clarke, and Smart already meet the criteria. Once Des sits against the Timberwolves Thursday… And Jake LaRavia sits against the Bulls this weekend…

That would be six players that meet the criteria. As such the Grizzlies would qualify for three hardship exceptions.

With that in mind—and with the Grizzlies needs in mind as well—here are three players. Three players that Memphis could pursue with their hardship exceptions. Three guys who can help the team stay afloat now… With the option to be apart of the future if the cards fall their way.

The Familiar Option—Jaylen Nowell

There’s a chance that with these hardship exceptions Memphis will elect for familiarity. There’s also a chance that they use one of the exceptions on a more offensive minded guy. After all they’re looking at replacing the production of Morant, Bane, and Smart.

Not going to be easy to say the least. Replicating that loss of production. What may be easier than you think though is finding a player that fits this bill.

The Grizzlies may need look no further than Jaylen Nowell if the above is what they’re looking for. After all the team’s already used one of their previous hardship exceptions on him.

Jaylen Nowell ends the first half with a BANG for the @StocktonKings! 👑

He has 12 PTS in 16 MIN on @NBATV. pic.twitter.com/x8GymODTF9

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 15, 2024

Early in the season Nowell was the perfect example. An example of when a team chooses to sign a guy to more than one 10-day contract. Memphis actually signed him to two, back-to-back.

In the nine games—with one start—in Memphis he played well enough. Jaylen’s per game averages this season were 5.7 PTS, 1.6 REB, and 1.8 AST. Pedestrian? I guess. But in those nine games there were some real gems.

Look no further than the game against Dallas on December 1st as an example. In that contest Nowell went off for 19 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL on 57.1/33.3/100% shooting. Not to mention the advanced metrics look promising as well.

His per 100 possessions numbers are as follows… 15.8 PTS, 4.3 REB, 4.9 AST. An increased role doesn’t seem out of the question. And that’s most likely what Memphis would need from him—an increased role. It seems he won’t shrink from the challenge.

The Veteran(ish) Option—Elfrid Payton

Is it fair to call a player who is only 29 years old a veteran? Well… When your team is full of a bunch of young un’s… And well… When you’ve got nine years of NBA experience under your belt…

You’d definitely be a veteran on this team, far as I’m concerned.

Now, one area of need? Point guard. As of now, the Grizzlies have—if you’re getting technical—two true, healthy point guards on the roster. Two.

And of those two you know how many are on two-way contracts? If you said two… Bingo. That’s not ideal if we’re being blunt about it.

If you’re going to compete in NBA games… You’re going to need to have more than a developmental dude running your offense. In this humble writer’s opinion.

Enter former top-10 lottery pick Elfrid Payton.

Elfrid Payton is still THAT DUDE! 👊

Catch @TheMadAnts PG in action right now as they battle the Celtics on @NBATV. pic.twitter.com/5bA0HrWTe5

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 14, 2024

The last NBA minutes seen by the point guard were in Phoenix with the Suns. Since? Well he’s spent time in the Puerto Rican professional league—yes that’s a thing. Before he would find an eventual home with the Pacers G-League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants.

Now, why would Memphis have interest in a journeyman like Payton?Well… His playmaking for one. Good lord they could use his playmaking.

Before his exit from the league… Elf’s career per game averages were 10.1 PTS, 4.0 REB, 5.7 AST, and 1.2 STL. He was also good for 17 career triple doubles while in the league. All in all, not too shabby.

But it’s since playing in the BSN—Baloncesto Superior Nacional—and returning… It seems Payton’s been playing with a new fire as a Mad Ant. He’s averaging 9.0 PTS, 3.5 REB, 11.5 AST, and 2.5 STL in 29.6 min.

Look I get it… That’s only in two games with Indiana… But still, Memphis finds themselves needing maturity and a facilitator. Elf gives them both.

The Big Option—Trey Jemison

Another area Memphis is in desperate need of backup? The big man position. As is, the Grizzlies have one—two depending on who you talk to—bigs on the roster.

And that “big” doesn’t like to play the position. I’m speaking of course of Jaren Jackson Jr. That’s it. And if we’re being honest, that’s not going to cut it. You’re not going to survive the season playing with only one “big” on your roster.

The thing is… It’s not like quality bigs are out there available for the pickings. The Grizzlies were already scraping the bottom of the barrel. Earlier this season that is.

When they were searching the doldrums of free agents for a center. They had to land on Bismack Biyombo. A serviceable option… But there’s a reason he’s no longer on the squad.

Now, a large chunk of Grizzlies fans were keeping there fingers crossed for this guy. With there vacated two-way spot there were those clamoring to use it on a big. Instead they elected to sign guard Scotty Pippen Jr.

That—somewhat—shores up the guard position… But what about the center spot? What about using a hardship exception instead? And what about Trey Jemison?

Trey Jemison taking up STRONG early on! 😤 @GleagueSquadron

📺: https://t.co/fLGfbO0vpY pic.twitter.com/hOnI3HU7H5

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 15, 2024

What is there to not like about the way Trey hoops? Bluff City Media’s own Myke Horrell broke down his game damn near perfect. Here’s the way I see it… There’s bullies at the center position… And then there’s capitol B-Bullies at the center position.

Jemison is from the latter positional school of thought.

He’s also a capitol B-Big ole’ boy, and Memphis must salivate at the size he could bring to the table. At 6’11” he would give Trip a run for his money in the height department depending on the day I imagine.

Trey uses that size to his advantage, backing his play up as well. And if you’ve seen the dude play I imagine a resounding “duh” left your lips at that. He’s currently playing for the Pelican’s G-League affiliate—the Birmingham Squadron.

And… Well let’s say he’s putting up numbers. He’s averaging 14.8 PTS, 12.0 REB in 30.3 minutes… While shooting the ball 67.6% from the field and 81.0% from the line. Scores? Check. Rebounds? Check. Makes his shots? Check.

All three of these areas, are places the Grizzlies could use real help with. Especially now. Memphis may not have used their third two-way contract to sign Jemison… But that doesn’t mean they won’t use one of their hardship exceptions to get the kid to Beale St.

Photo Credit: (Michael Gonzales/NBAE)