Pippen has stepped up on numerous occasions over the past two seasons when Ja Morant has been unavailable. Across 27 starts, including the postseason, Pippen averaged 14.6 points, 5.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals while posting 49/43/81 shooting splits. Morant ended 2024-25 with a hip injury and has played in only 59 regular-season games over the past two years, but is expected to be healthy for 2025-26. The Grizzlies also swapped Desmond Bane for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and added Ty Jerome on a sizable deal this offseason. Pippen won't have guaranteed usage, so it'll be difficult for him to replicate the production from his breakout campaign. However, the youngster averaged 19.3 minutes as a reserve last season (58 games), so he should at least be part of the rotation when everyone is available. Pippen underwent a procedure to address a left big toe injury at the end of training camp and will miss the first three months of the season.