Ja Morant. Marcus Smart. Steven Adams. Brandon Clarke. Derrick Rose.
As if it wasn’t enough that those five were out injured and out for an extended period for the Grizzlies, now comes this news: Desmond Bane is now out for at least six weeks and likely longer with a serious Grade 3 ankle sprain, the team announced.
The @memgrizz today announced the following medical update: pic.twitter.com/HxH7H1ForD
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) January 15, 2024
That makes four of the team’s five projected starters out injured, plus two key bench players. In the wake of all that, wing Jake LaRavia was getting regular run, but now he is out for a few weeks as well with a sprained ankle.
Memphis is 14-25 on the season and sits 13th in the West. As it controls its own draft pick this season, Memphis should start tanking focus on playing and developing its younger players. Flush this season, add a lottery pick and some depth this summer, then come back next season as a threat in the West again.
