The offseason injury report for the team includes JJJ and Zach Edey.
Unfortunately, the Memphis Grizzlies’ injury woes have persisted for the better part of a decade.
The most recent victim of the injury bug was reported by the Grizzlies shortly after Shams Charania announced on June 30 that Jaren Jackson Jr. would be signing a five-year, $240 million deal extension with the franchise.
Turf toe is an injury that Jackson Jr. suffered in the offseason; this past summer, he underwent surgery to begin the healing process.
If all goes according to plan, Jackson Jr. is expected to make his return at the start of next season.
What this means is that when October gets around, his injury status will determine how many minutes he plays.
The Grizzlies’ injury report just gets worse, as they continue to lose key players.
Another Memphis big, Zach Edey, had to have surgery for an injury he sustained earlier this summer.
An ankle problem that Edey had dealt with during the regular season was made worse when he sprained it again during a workout.
The precise length of time he will be out is uncertain, but it will certainly prevent him from playing in the first few games of next season.
Despite injury setbacks, Memphis found strength in its supporting cast
Memphis’ playoff run was arguably cut short last season due to injuries alone; Ja Morant, Jaylen Wells, and Brandon Clarke were not 100% available for the Grizzlies during the postseason.
This made a huge impact on the team’s ability to move past the eventual NBA Champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
However, despite the loss, the fight the team displayed on the postseason stage should not be forgotten, as they worked through these injuries and setbacks to give themselves a real chance.
One bright spot for the Grizzlies is their ability to integrate new players into the rotation, giving everyone on the roster a chance to contribute and garner some playing time.
Last season, the Grizzlies looked to their bench and two-way talent to fill in some of the gaps as the team battled injuries.
John Konchar helped increase the team’s rebounding percentages off the bench while Zach Edey got time to rest.
Cam Spencer provided a spark of energy for the team and put his three-point shooting abilities on full display.
Strategic moves position Grizzlies for a strong return
All this to say, hope is not lost for Memphis even with that lingering injury bug. There are already a lot of talented pieces on the team, and the latest NBA Draft has given them even more depth.
Cedric Coward, Javon Small, and Jahmai Mashack are all getting ready to make an impact.
Along with three new rookies, the Grizzlies have strengthened their roster through trades and free agency, bringing in Ty Jerome, Jock Landale, PJ Hall (two-way), and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
As the Grizzlies are working to deliver a championship to Grind City, supporters should be really thrilled about what’s to come.
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