The Memphis Grizzlies missed the NBA Playoffs last season. They finished the season 27-55, ending the season on a five-game losing streak, and finished 13th in the Western Conference. Grizzlies fans only got to enjoy nine wins on their home court and only nine games of their Star Guard Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies star was suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 NBA season.
On December 19th, 2023, Morant returned to action and dropped 34 points and hit the game-winning shot against the New Orleans Pelicans. On January 6th of this year Morant suffered a season ending shoulder injury during practice, which put him back on the bench.
Well, Grizzlies fans can now rejoice that their star guard has been cleared to participate with the team. Morant is arguably one of the top star athletes in the NBA. He won Rookie of the Year in 2020, All-Rookie First Team in 2020, All-NBA Second Team, and Most Improved Player in 2022. One could say without Ja Morant on the roster, Memphis really isn’t a threat in the ever-growing competitive WC. With him in the lineup Memphis could make a path towards its first NBA Championship. Before the Morant injury Memphis was considered a top threat in the WC. No one man can do it all, so what else do the Grizzlies have planned with Morant Back?
Do The Grizzlies Have Enough To Capture A Title
It’s no secret Grizzlies performance last season wasn’t ideal. Most would consider the team to be fairly young. Grizzlies Shooting Guard Desmond Bane was drafted in 2020, a year after Ja Morant. Bane is 26 years old. During Morant’s absence Bane too had an injury which placed him on the bench around the beginning months of this year. Bane had a back injury that never got right during the season. He played 42 games of the 2023-24 season. The shooting guard was averaging 23.7 PPG on 46% from the field, he shot 38% from three and contributed 5.5 assists and 4.4 rebounds. Bane has the experience and chemistry with playing with Ja Morant for the past three seasons.
Power Forward Jaren Jackson Jr, age 24, was drafted before Ja Morant in 2018 by Memphis in the first round at No. 4. The Grizzlies forward averaged 22.5 PPG on 44% shooting from the field, 5.5 RPG and averaged 32% from the arch. Defensively, Jackson was averaging 1.6 blocks per game, which is a bit of a drop from last season. He averaged 1.2 steals per game, which is a season’s best for him with the Grizzlies. Jackson was NBA DPOY in 2023 and is a two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team. He too has had time to play with Morant to develop a good chemistry. However, they still need some help.
Possible Big Three With Some Help From The Bench
With Morant, Bane, and Jackson playing and developing together, one could say that the Memphis Grizzlies have a big three to be a force in the league. But they will still need some help. What moves has the franchise made to add to the team offensively and defensively?
Well, the Grizzlies had the 9th pick in the first round in the 2024 NBA Draft. With that pick they drafted Center from Purdue Zach Edey. Last season at Purdue Edey shot 62% from the field, averaging 25 PPG, 12 RPG, and averaged 2 BPG. On July 8th, Memphis played the Utah Jazz for a Summer League game. The rookie from Purdue scored 14 points on 7/12 shooting from the field, 15 rebounds, and four blocks. After that performance Edey became a favorite to win Rookie of the Year this season.
Santi Aldama was acquired from the Utah Jazz in 2021 after the draft. The franchise expects him to have major potential this upcoming season. GG Jackson II who they drafted in 2023 is also a key player. Jackson II scored 14 PPG on 42% shooting in the 48 games he played. He saw some major playing time with Morant out with injury. If the Grizzlies can get a little more out of Jackson II one could see him being a major asset coming off the bench. On paper the Memphis Grizzlies have real potential with this young squad. With Morant’s ability to crash the paint and draw in the defense it gives him more options on the perimeter.
October is far off from now, and until then, anything can happen. You also still have the whole 82-game season to deal with. But just to put this out there, when Ja Morant was healthy and trouble-free he led the Grizzlies to two playoff appearances in 2021-22 and 2022-23. You got to think that he is hungry to make it further into the NBA Playoffs. If the whole Memphis crew can stay healthy and pull out that expected potential in their young players we may see a really successful season coming for them.
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