Just moments after the Grizzlies announced a suspension for their franchise star, the latest update on the future of young swingman Brandon Clarke gave them another reason to hit the panic button.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Clarke is out for the season after a left Achilles tendon tear.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has suffered a season-ending left Achilles tear, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. Clarke averages 10 points on 65 percent shooting. pic.twitter.com/EnPEPMu51a
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 4, 2023
Clarke was not a go-to scoring option for the Grizz, but his presence on both ends of the floor was huge for the team’s overall depth and his absence will be another challenge for them as they attempt to keep pace in the Western Conference standings.
But now, without one of their premier bench players, and their franchise star dealing with numerous off-court issues, there are doubts that the Grizzlies can compete in the playoffs against the likes of Denver, Phoenix, and Golden State Warriors.
Memphis Grizzlies Are In Serious Trouble
After a scorching hot start to the season, led by Ja Morant, the Grizzlies were considered legitimate title contenders in the West and ready to take on the toughest challenge some postseason time.
Recently, however, Memphis hasn’t looked the same. Since January 20th, the Grizz are just 7-11 with some concerning losses. They have missed Steven Adams for a long stretch, and now they are without Clarke, but the issues go deeper than injuries alone.
Besides playing with a rough and aggressive style on the court, Ja has completely transformed his team’s image off the court. Over the past few months, reports of his activities (which range from flashing his gun on IG live to beating up a 17-year-old kid) have been brought to light and it has resulted in a firestorm of hate and criticism.
“We are, you see it on social media,” said Ja. “Anything that has to do with the Grizzlies is front-line national television and national people putting it out. Anything else, it don’t be said…”
Whether true or not, the Grizzlies are headed on the fast track to nowhere. Unless Morant fixes his attitude quickly and leads his team back in the right direction, Memphis is going to find it tough to keep its focus on quality basketball.
Now, as the reorganization does damage control, Ja finds himself at a crossroads with some serious decisions to make about his future and what kind of reputation he wants to develop as a star in this league.
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