Memphis Grizzlies
Can Ja Morant be the team’s next franchise player?
Not too long ago, the Memphis Grizzlies were a Western Conference finalist. However, since that 2012-13 season, the Grizzlies haven’t been able to replicate that same success. It led to Marc Gasol being traded to the Raptors at the NBA Trade Deadline last season and then Mike Conley being moved to the Jazz during this offseason.
As the Grizzlies begin the rebuild, the big question for the team this season revolves around their new shiny prospect, Ja Morant. The Grizzlies took Morant with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and now holds the key to the franchise. Can Morant be that player, though?
He was impressive during his sophomore season at Murray State, which rose him up the draft boards and became the first player in NCAA history to record a triple-double in an NCAA Tournament game.
The Grizzlies need him to be that player in order to raise the ceiling for this franchise. He needs to be the first piece to their rebuild, the one that the team begins to build around. He has the charisma and resume to be a star in the NBA, but the question remains whether his ability will be able to rise to the occasion.