Morant will be one of the three MVP candidates?

1- What is the franchise’s dream?
To end the Golden State Warriors’ new reign in the West and in the NBA.

Ja Morant is living his best moment (Memphis signed him to a five-year, $231 million extension), he has established himself as the leader of the Grizzlies, but he won’t become a superstar if he can’t win with his team.

And to do so, he has several rivals to fear in the West: the defending champion Warriors, the favored Phoenix Suns, and the never-well-weighted Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers or Dallas Mavericks.

Last season, the Grizzlies finished second in the West (56-26) and the prediction for this season is to finish sixth (51-31).

Morant has a big challenge in the upcoming campaign.

2- What is the main unfinished business for the Grizzlies?
Maintain or improve what was done last season. Something that on paper seems a little complicated, not because they do not have the roster to do it, but because among the great candidates are the current champions, Golden State Warriors, the Phoenix Suns, who have led the conference in the last two years, and the renewed Los Angeles Lakers, thirsty for revenge.

Last season the Grizzlies were one of the NBA’s most pleasant surprises, occupying second place in the Western Conference with a 56-26 record, ahead of the Warriors; however, in the Playoffs they encountered a California team that grew and improved throughout the season and down the stretch until they were crowned with the championship.

To do so, perhaps a deeper roster is needed, as their first unit is above and beyond what the reserves can offer.

Not to mention their big man, Ja Morant, if the point guard stays healthy there is no stopping him, but a growing team that aspires to something important in the Playoffs cannot depend on just one player. Sometimes it seems that if Morant doesn’t solve games, coach Taylor Jenkins has no options in his ‘deck’.

3- Real or not: Will Ja Morant be one of the three MVP candidates?
Real. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic have split the last four awards, deservedly so. Now it’s Ja Morant’s turn. Let’s remember that before he got injured, we were already handling him in the conversation during the 2021-22 season.

It’s time for him to make the leap from star to superstar. He comes from averaging 27.4 points, 6.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds. In addition, he participated in his first All-Star Game and won the Most Improved Award. He led the league in points in the paint for an extended period of time, something not done by a point guard since 1996-1997.

His Grizzlies, likewise, are coming off one of the best seasons in franchise history, finishing second in the West, their best finish ever. They recorded an average age, making them the youngest team to finish with a top-two NBA record since the act was made official in 1951-52.

Morant, meanwhile, is the sixth player to average at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a season at age 22 or younger, joining Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.

All of these storylines show us that, if injuries respect him, and his Grizzlies go far, he’ll be in the conversation. They have talent and equipment… to spare.