A nightmare season saw the Memphis Grizzlies go from two straight second-place finishes in the Western Conference to the lottery. With Ja Morant and many injured players coming back, the Grizzlies want to prove they’re still contenders. Here are three big questions facing the Grizzlies going into the new season.
- How many games will they get out of Ja Morant?
Ja Morant’s struggles with the law and NBA discipline have been highly publicized, with the All-Star guard serving a 25-game suspension to start last season and eight games during the 2022-23 season for flashing handguns on social media. That’s overshadowed Morant’s recent injury history, which has also cost him a lot of games. Morant suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder in January, which caused him to miss the season’s final 47 games. In the 2021-22 season, Morant missed 10 of the final 11 regular-season games with a knee injury, which later ended his playoffs three games into the second round.
Morant has gone a full year without any legal issues, but the physical issues may be more concerning for the Grizzlies. He’s listed at just 174 pounds, making him one of the league’s smallest players. He’s also one of the NBA’s most fearless players, attacking the basket with fury no matter who or what might be standing in his way.
Memphis has survived without Morant in the past, but it doesn’t have the same guard depth as in past years, with De’Anthony Melton and Tyus Jones departing last summer. If Morant misses time, the Grizzlies will have to rely on players like 35-year-old Derrick Rose, Vince Williams, Jr. and Scotty Pippen, Jr. to play big minutes. That would significantly damage their playoff aspirations.
- Can Zach Edey’s game translate to the NBA?
Zach Edey was a two-time college player of the year at Purdue, averaging 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds as he led the Boilermakers to the NCAA title game. The 22-year-old Canadian is immediately one of the NBA’s biggest players at 7-foot-4 and 300 pounds, ideally plugging a Steven Adams-sized hole in the Grizzlies frontcourt. Edey should be able to grab rebounds and clog up the lane on defense, but he’s not particularly quick for a modern NBA big.
Memphis used the No. 9 pick in the draft on Edey, one of its only significant offseason moves, so the Grizzlies are clearly expecting him to contribute right away. It’s easy to imagine Edey matching up against some of the NBA’s biggest centers and delivering monster screens for Morant and Desmond Bane, but it’s not clear how he will hold up when forced to defend the perimeter or play at a fast pace.
- Do the Grizzlies have enough size?
Memphis drafted the biggest player in the draft, but their guards and wings are relatively small across the board. Their backcourt of Morant and Smart is tough, but not tall. Projected small forward Bane is 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-4 wingspan. Rose is 6-foot-3. Williams, listed as a forward, is 6-foot-4. Luke Kennard is 6-foot-5, but doesn’t particularly play defense or rebound. Even backup center Brandon Clarke stands just 6-foot-8.
Memphis also had size limitations last year when it had the 12th-best defensive rating in the NBA, thanks to a lot of steals and blocks. Edey should help their dismal rebounding numbers (24th in the NBA), but the team seems to be facing the choice of going extremely big inside with Edey and Jackson together, or being very small when Edey sits. Memphis is going to have to add some size or hope its three-point percentage (second-to-last in the NBA) dramatically improves.
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