The Memphis Grizzlies are now betting solely on the 2025-26 season, if recent injury developments following the trade deadline are any indication. Ja Morant's status is already up in the air amid a battle with a UCL sprain, and now, his backcourt partner, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, will undergo surgery to address a "misalignment of his right little finger," according to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel.
The Grizzlies are currently ranked 11th in the West, which theoretically keeps them in the running for a play-in tournament spot. But it seems he has no interest in competing for a postseason spot, especially after trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz before the deadline.
This at least gives the Grizzlies' remaining veterans time and space to recover from any setbacks, which is exactly what Caldwell-Pope is doing. Teams are trying to compete for better lottery odds, which means they will prioritize youth moving forward.
Caldwell-Pope was acquired by the Grizzlies in the Desmond Bane trade last offseason. He has played in 51 of the Grizzlies' 53 games so far this season, averaging 8.4 points per game on 41/32/91 shooting splits.
Grizzlies lean on youth amid Kentavious Caldwell-Pope injury
Caldwell-Pope, on paper, could have been a solid stopgap addition for the Grizzlies as they tried to remain semi-competitive after the Bane trade. But Morant's injuries and poor performance, along with injuries to key players like Ty Jerome, Scottie Pippen Jr. and Zach Eddy, spelled disaster from every direction for the Grizzlies, denying Memphis much of a chance.
Nevertheless, Caldwell-Pope is guaranteed to remain in Memphis for next season. He has a $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, and that's the kind of money he won't turn down in any universe.
