The Memphis Grizzlies have high aspirations. They want to be the next big thing in the West, but they really fell short of that lofty goal last season. Now, Ja Morant will be suspended for 25 games to start the season, so the rest of the squad will have to pave the way for a more successful run without their superstar. This comes on top of the fact that there is still a huge hole in the form of Dillon Brooks on the roster that desperately needs to be filled.
Between Morant and Brooks, the Grizzlies are losing about 40 points per game, and there’s a lot Grizzlies can expect from David Roddy and Zaire Williams at this point in their careers. Morant put his teammates in a difficult position, forcing them to overcome two huge obstacles at the same time and find success among them. So, let’s take a look at four Grizzlies players who should step up in his absence.
Grizzlies Player No. 4: Teus Jones
Tyus Jones is the most obvious pick here. The starting point guard is suspended, so the backup has to step in. However, Jones has great shoes to fill. Last season, Morant averaged 26.2 points and 8.1 assists per game. Replacing this type of production is difficult.
Fortunately, the Grizzlies have had to gather some experience playing without Morant over the past two seasons and he has been doing well. In 2022-23, Jones averaged 16.4 points in effective shooting, 8.1 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.8 steals as a junior. Those are the opposing team’s starting point numbers, but it’s still a significant drop from Morant’s scoring. On the other hand, Jones is very careful with the ball and is a better defender than Morant. He averaged just 1.5 turnover per game as a starter, compared to Morant’s 3.4.
This isn’t the first time Jones has had to fill in for Morant, but he will have to do so for a long time this time around. He will have to be at his best to not only keep the team afloat but also to set a positive tone for a season that begins on a negative note. The Grizzlies need Jones to show the same efficiency, safety on the ball and playmaking he has shown before while adding a few points perfectly on the scoring front.