How should the Grizzlies approach the rest of the season without Ja Morant?

After arguably their best two wins of the season, the Memphis Grizzlies had to feel pretty good coming into Monday with the hope that their season was finally starting to turn the corner. Except when Monday night came around, that corner probably looked a lot like a dead end. The Grizzlies franchise and fan base unfortunately got the worst possible news on Monday night:

And just like that, it is fair to suggest all the positive momentum from the weekend has now come to a screeching halt.

The obvious truth is that the Grizzlies already slim chances of making an inspiring playoff push this season is now very likely over. The coaching staff will continue to coach and the roster will continue to play like that is not the case (as they should, but more on that in a moment), but all the sense in the world pretty much makes the writing on the wall clear.

The season is “over”.

With Morant, the Grizzlies are 6-3 this year. Without Morant, they are 7-20, with arguably the worst offense in the league. And while the roster has played much of the season without Morant, this has to be devastating news. The players have endured many different sources of struggles so far this year to get to a point where they truly felt the season could be turned around with Morant back. Now with him out for the season, you know the players will miss his presence and the impact he brings.

So with Morant now done for the season and the Grizzlies facing a very tall task of making a playoff push without him, it would seem that any and all decisions made for the rest of the this year should focus on the future and not the present. However, with where the Grizzlies plan to be on the competitive timeline by the start of next season, perhaps the most beneficial way to approach the future is to continue prioritizing success in the present.

On the Court Approach

Simply put, NOTHING should change. This team should continue to focus on pursuing the playoffs and not “tanking.”

This may seem like a less than ideal approach for a team that will very likely be a lottery team in the 2024 draft and should focus on the future. But when it comes to a team “tanking”, the usual focus for this strategy is to create the best chance of gaining assets to ESTABLISH a future core. For the Grizzlies, their future core is already ESTABLISHED. And while adding another high draft pick to it has its appeal, the best strategy for the remainder of the Grizzlies core is to continue figuring out how to find offensive success without their best offensive player.

And that means finding ways to win games even when it is not expected (such as they did their last two games.) Thus when Morant returns next year, this team can consistently feature multiple ways to frequently win games.

This should be the mentality of this team even if, in reality, wins are not likely. In the end, this team will very likely miss the playoffs and have a good chance at a 2024 draft pick will within the top 10 picks. But they should continue to strive to have as much success for this roster as they can on the court this season. This is why the process is more important than the results.

That process includes the continuation of career years for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane on the offensive side of the ball.

It includes bounce back performances for veterans Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard.

It includes validating the legitimacy of the emergence of Vince Williams Jr.

And it includes gaining more certainty, and perhaps some closure, on the long term prospects for several young players on the Memphis roster.

The Grizzlies performance on Sunday night in Phoenix in a near must-win situation was not only done without Morant, but also likely with the knowledge that this news could be coming Monday. And the team responded with one of its most complete performances of the season. Despite this year’s struggles, the Grizzlies are gonna be right back to focusing on being one of the top teams in the West next season. And the best way to ensure that is the case is for many individuals on the roster to continue or start experiencing success.

While team wins may not occur as a result in the present, having many players not only being ready but knowing better how to win in the future could be a great outcome for this season. Bane, Jackson Jr., and the rest of the roster have earned the trust to continue being competitive and trying to win. If they do win, an inspiring playoff pursuit occurs as the result of needed roster development and production. If they do not, they still have continued getting better while the franchise is in line for a potentially good to great future asset in the 2024 draft.

While I would not label losing Morant for the season as any sort of win, the Grizzlies should be inspired more than ever to play like they have nothing to lose.

Off the Court Approach

While the approach when it comes to the games being played should remain focused on playing the best basketball possible, decisions off the court should be focused on putting together the best roster for the future as possible. This means that any and all decisions at the trade deadline should be focused on the future. Now, if the Grizzlies win 80% of their games over the next month, then sure, add present value that is reasonable to acquire. But if it is even more clear in a month that the Grizzlies are not making the postseason this year, then any and all trade discussions/decisions should be focused on the future.

An idea of what that looks like in an outline:

• Make Vince Williams Jr a part of the permanent roster for this year and beyond
• Do so by doing a consolidation trade (2 for 1, 3 for 1) that also potentially clears future money for more future financial flexibility
• Move expiring contracts or players that likely are no longer in the future plans for whatever assets can be acquired
• Listen on veteran players that are signed beyond this year, but only move if an “offer that cannot be refused” emerges
• Start conversations on trade targets that could make sense for the long-term future of the Grizzlies at the deadline, thus setting foundation for talks to continue in summer
• Unless a no-brainer, DO NOT TRADE 2024 Draft Pick

As for specifics, beyond the play of Bane and Jackson Jr. this season, the next best outcome so far has been the emergence of Vince Williams Jr. in a clear area of need on the wing. As a result, the Grizzlies are about a month away from needing to get him on the permanent roster as his 50-game allowance runs out for his current two-way status. A sensible way for the Grizzlies to do that is by using some combo of expendable pieces in a minor deal that could return a non-significant player and/or future asset. Players that could be used in this scenario are John Konchar, Jake Laravia, Xavier Tillman, and Bismack Biyombo (Ziaire Williams and David Roddy still have roster value in the present and future imo.) The value that would come from this deal is likely not in the trade return itself, but in signing Williams Jr. to a multi-year deal and hopefully clearing future money for more salary cap flexibility.

But what about more significant moves?

Without a doubt, the Grizzlies should remain open to any and all possibilities. I feel it is a near certainty that several teams will inquire about the availability of Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard. And while the optics of moving Smart after just acquiring him this summer may not be the best, if the offer for him contains enough future value that the Grizzlies would be foolish to refuse, a move could be justified. Furthermore, Memphis should make any and all calls when it to comes to potential trade targets that they feel could make the Grizzlies better long-term. For instance, if a center on a multi-year contract that the franchise likes becomes available at a reasonable cost, do the the deal with confidence.

But the big key is that the Grizzlies should NOT just have some type of fire sale or just accept the best offer available. In the case of Smart and Kennard, and even Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams returning from injury, you have veteran pieces that you are confident will work well with your core once healthy. As a result, the franchise should continue prioritizing that focus into next season. This means only moving one of these players in a deal that clearly is more valuable for the future than keeping said player.

And even if no significant move is made at the deadline, that does not mean conversations were not productive. Zach Kleiman has shown in the past that trade deadline conversations can lead to beneficial deals being completed in the offseason (Mike Conley trade). Plus, in the likely outcome that the Grizzlies miss the playoffs and have a lottery pick in 2024, an offseason trade package could be more attractive than one at the trade deadline if the Grizzlies look to make a significant addition. As a result, the Grizzlies 2024 first rounder should not be moved until the summer when the Grizzlies actual draft spot is known. This will likely be when it has its most value, and also when trade packages with draft picks can be customized to be most attractive.

Or, if the Grizzlies were to have some more lottery luck and land a top 2 or 3 pick in the draft, the best path forward may simply be using the pick to add another highly intriguing talent with valuable cost control to the roster.

So while a quiet deadline may not seem like too exciting of an idea, the Grizzlies gaining more knowledge on trade targets while also letting their potential trade package offers gain value in the summer seems astute.

Overall, the loss of Ja Morant does not really change much when it comes to the rest of the season approach of the Grizzlies. The reason why is because the most likely outcome for this season remains, it just now is far more certain.

And yes, common sense should prevail.

If Bane, Jackson Jr., or others are dealing with ailments, rest them.

Let Brandon Clarke return without added pressure.

Prioritize playing time and opportunities for players that are in the long terms plans versus those that are not.

It would also seem unwise to make any drastic decisions when it comes to the coaching staff or front office when they have so few opportunities to see their best players play together this season.

This front office and franchise is familiar with focusing on the future. But this time, the best approach is likely not changing much about the present. As a result, balancing patience while being proactive should be the focus off the court while continuing to win should be the priority on the court.