Two Grizzlies to miss multiple weeks with injury

Grizzlies wing Ziaire Williams and point guard Derrick Rose will be sidelined for the next several weeks due to injuries, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link).

Williams, who suffered his injury on Saturday vs. Portland, has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of hip flexor and low back muscles. According to the team, he’ll be reevaluated in four weeks.

Rose, meanwhile, exited last Wednesday’s game in Minnesota early due to low back and groin soreness. He has been diagnosed with right osteitis pubis (joint inflammation) and will be reevaluated in three weeks, per the Grizzlies.

Williams and Rose are two of the many Grizzlies players who have been hampered by health issues this season. Williams has averaged 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 20.5 minutes per game across 51 contests, while Rose has been limited to just 24 appearances. He has averaged 8.0 PPG, 3.3 APG, and 1.9 RPG in 16.6 MPG in those games.

While neither player has been ruled out for the season, there are less than six weeks left to play, so it wouldn’t be shocking if either one is shut down. Their multi-week absences could open the door for the Grizzlies to sign more players to 10-day hardship contracts for depth purposes. Currently, Matthew Hurt is on a 10-day hardship deal.

Looking beyond this season, Williams is under contract for $6.13M in 2024/25 and will be extension-eligible as of July 1, while Rose holds a $3.36M player option for ’24/25, which he’ll likely exercise. However, neither player is a lock to be on Memphis’ roster next year, given their relatively modest contributions in ’23/24 and the fact that they’ll be on expiring deals.