Eight players traded, four starters gone. Grizzlies face Kings shorthanded, scrambling to fill a depleted roster amidst trade fallout and injury woes.
The aftermath of a sweeping eight-player trade left the Memphis Grizzlies scrambling for bodies as they prepare to face the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night in California.
Memphis arrives at Golden 1 Center on Feb. 4 with its roster in flux after sending Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, Vince Williams Jr., and John Konchar to the Utah Jazz. In return, the Grizzlies acquired Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, and Georges Niang, along with three first-round draft picks.
None of the incoming players are expected to be available against Sacramento, leaving Memphis severely shorthanded. Jackson, Konchar, Williams and Landale accounted for four of the Grizzlies’ healthy players prior to the deal, compounding a roster crunch that already existed because of injuries.
There was modest relief on the injury report when Santi Aldama was upgraded to questionable while managing a right knee issue. Scotty Pippen Jr., who has yet to appear this season, was also upgraded to doubtful as he continues recovering from left great toe surgery.
Even with those updates, Memphis remains without any centers. Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke remain sidelined, forcing coach Tuomas Iisalo to piece together lineups from a limited pool. The Grizzlies must dress at least eight players and could have as many as 11 available, depending on how they handle their two-way contracts.
Among those who could suit up are guards Jaylen Wells, Ty Jerome and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, along with Olivier-Maxence Prosper and forward GG Jackson. Two-way players Jahmai Mashack and Javon Small are healthy, though Memphis could opt to limit their availability because of the 50-game threshold.
Jerome’s emergence has been one of the few stabilizing forces for the Grizzlies. After missing the start of the season with a calf injury, he returned over the last two games and averaged 19.5 points and seven assists, including 19 points and eight assists in just 20 minutes during Monday’s 137-128 win over Minnesota that snapped a six-game skid.
Iisalo highlighted Jerome’s immediate impact after that victory.
“He did all the things that we expected him to do for us this season — create out of the pick and roll, also be a threat off the ball and opening up space for other guys,” Iisalo said. “You need the handler and the screener to have enough creation that they don’t need to rely on team reactions, but they create a two-on-one situation. Ty is definitely that guy.”
Sacramento, meanwhile, is navigating its own uncertainty. The Kings have dropped nine straight games and sit at the bottom of the standings, fueling trade speculation around Domantas Sabonis as the deadline approaches. Sabonis recently returned from a 17-game absence due to a strained left knee and has started three straight contests, averaging 12.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists, though he was held out of recent games with back soreness.
The Kings went 0-6 on a road trip that intensified rumors, including reports linking Sabonis to Toronto. Sacramento did complete one move, acquiring De’Andre Hunter from Cleveland in exchange for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, and more activity could follow with the deadline looming.
Head coach Doug Christie acknowledged the mental toll of the constant speculation.
“You’d be remiss to think that those type of things affect you a little bit,” Christie said. “It can bring your energy up or down. And that’s where we have to hold each other and help each other in those moments.”
Memphis can relate. The Grizzlies have played 12 of their last 14 games without Ja Morant as he manages a sore left elbow, and his future has hovered over the locker room as well. Both teams, at least, will avoid playing on deadline day itself. Memphis continues its road trip in Portland after a day off Thursday, while Sacramento returns home Friday to face the Los Angeles Clippers.