Grizzlies’ Newcomers Set to Suit Up vs. Trail Blazers as Roster Shuffle Continues
The Memphis Grizzlies are wasting no time getting their new additions acclimated. Just days after pulling off a significant eight-player trade with the Utah Jazz, Memphis is expected to roll out three fresh faces in Tuesday night's matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr., and Taylor Hendricks are all clear of the injury report and available to play. While Clayton and Hendricks are set to make their Grizzlies debuts, Anderson is making a homecoming of sorts.
The veteran forward spent four seasons in Memphis from 2018 to 2022, where he carved out a role not just on the court, but as a respected voice in the locker room. His familiarity with the organization and steady presence could be a stabilizing force for a team that’s been in flux this season.
The trade that brought in the trio sent Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. to Utah. It’s a bold move, especially with Jackson Jr. being such a central piece in recent years, but it signals a clear pivot as the Grizzlies look to reshape their core.
Memphis also acquired Georges Niang in the deal, but he won’t be suiting up. The team waived Niang on Monday to open a roster spot for veteran guard Eric Gordon, who arrives from the Philadelphia 76ers. Gordon, however, is not yet with the team and won’t be available for the first leg of this back-to-back in Portland.
The timing of these roster moves couldn’t be more critical. The Grizzlies are short-handed heading into Tuesday’s game, with Ty Jerome (right calf injury management) and Santi Aldama (right knee injury management) both ruled out. That opens the door for the newcomers to get immediate run - and likely meaningful minutes - against a Trail Blazers team also navigating its own rebuild.
There’s also a chance we see another debut - this time from within. Guard Scotty Pippen Jr., who’s been sidelined since the preseason with a left toe injury, is listed as questionable. If he’s able to go, it would mark his first appearance of the season and give Memphis another backcourt option as the team tries to patch together a rotation amid all the moving parts.
The Grizzlies and Blazers will run it back again on Wednesday in the second leg of a back-to-back, giving Memphis a quick look at how their new pieces fit - and what might still need adjusting. With so many fresh faces and a roster in transition, this stretch offers a glimpse into the next chapter of the Grizzlies’ evolution.