Derrick Rose puts Grizzlies star Ja Morant on notice amid NBA suspension

Morant, who will begin a five-year, $197 million max contract this season, will miss the first 25 games of 2023-24 after being suspended for conduct detrimental to the league. After back-to-back seasons of finishing as the No. 2 seed in the West, the Grizzlies will have an uphill battle of repeating their regular-season dominance for a third consecutive year. 

Stripping an MVP-caliber talent such as Morant from the lineup for an extended time will prove difficult on its own. Furthermore, a torn Achilles could force backup big Brandon Clarke to miss the entire season, while the team will look to replace the departed Dillon Brooks and his scrappiness on the wing. 

While Rose should prove a viable veteran addition and a key cog in the Memphis locker room, do not expect the 35-year-old to shoulder starter minutes in Morant's absence.   

In 2022-23, Rose's minutes per game were essentially cut in half, dropping to 12.5 per game from the 24.5 per game he averaged the season prior. If he can recapture his 2021-22 form when he shot 40.2% from three and averaged four assists, the Grizzlies will be ecstatic. Nevertheless, expect Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane to handle the heavy lifting in the backcourt until Morant returns. 

Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year with the Boston Celtics, was acquired as part of a three-team deal this offseason that sent Tyus Jones — Morant's primary backup since 2019-20 — to the Washington Wizards. 

Bane, 25, is fresh off a career-best 21.5 PPG campaign and should see those numbers increase further this season while operating as Memphis' de facto No. 1 scoring option over the first 25 games.