Veteran guard Avery Bradley will be the latest Grizzlies player to miss time with an injury, as the club announced today (via Twitter) that Bradley will be re-evaluated in a week after being diagnosed with a right shin contusion.
The news comes on the heels of a Tuesday announcement that C.J. Miles will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to foot injury. Bradley and Miles join a list of injured Memphis players that also includes Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, and Jaren Jackson.
A team can receive an extra roster spot via the hardship provision if it has four players who have missed three (or more) consecutive games and are expected to be out for at least two more weeks. While not all of the recovery timelines for those injured Grizzlies are known, the club could soon qualify for that exception and still has enough room under the tax line to sign a 10-day contract or two, if necessary.
For now, Mike Conley, Justin Holiday, and Delon Wright figure to carry the majority of the backcourt load, with youngsters Jevon Carter and Tyler Dorsey perhaps getting a longer look as well.
As David Cobb of The Memphis Commercial Appeal details, the Grizzlies’ latest injuries come at a crucial time for the club. While Memphis isn’t going to make the playoffs, the club wants to finish the season strong to increase the odds of its protected first-round pick conveying to Boston this season. The pick, which is top-eight protected, would have reduced protection in future years when the Grizzlies may be in full-blown rebuilding mode, so the team would prefer to settle that commitment sooner rather than later.
Currently, the Grizzlies are tied for sixth in 2018/19’s reverse standings, putting them in position to keep their first-rounder.