The Olympics are in the rearview mirror and NBA teams are beginning to prepare for training camps. The Grizzlies will be chomping at the bit to return to relevancy after a season written off by injuries. In these previews, we will take a look at each team’s key acquisitions, fantasy stars, and predicted finish.
Key Acquisitions
The biggest additions for Memphis will be their returning stars – Ja Morant missed 73 games a year ago, Desmond Bane missed 40, and Marcus Smart missed 62 – but, in terms of new faces, Zach Edey projects as the team’s most key name.
At 7-foot-4, 285 lbs, Edey put together one of the most dominant college careers in recent memory in his four seasons at Purdue before Memphis took him ninth overall in this year’s draft.
As a senior, he averaged 25.2 ppg, 12.2 rpg, and 2.2 bpg on 65.9 TS% en route to a second-consecutive National Player of the Year award.
Edey offers the Grizzlies a dominant presence on the interior and may start for them alongside Jackson Jr. to form a super-sized frontcourt.
There are concerns over his footspeed and conditioning but his combination of touch around the rim, basketball IQ, and size should push him into Memphis’ rotation from the jump.
Fantasy Stars
Despite being troubled by off-court issues in recent years, Morant (19th overall, 7th PG) remains Memphis’ franchise guy having averaged 26.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 7.5 apg over the past three seasons.
Jackson Jr. (45th overall, 21st PF/16th C) was the only Grizzly to stay reasonably healthy a year ago putting up 22.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 1.6 bpg in 66 starts.
Bane (51st overall, 23rd SG/19th SF) meanwhile has proven to be a steady third banana in Memphis having averaged 23.7 ppg and 5.5 apg shooting 38.1% on 8.6 threes per game in 42 starts last year.
Projected Finish
We really didn’t learn anything about Memphis last season, but they did manage to unearth some hidden gems who should crack their rotation this season in the form of Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson.
In both prior seasons, they finished with the second-best record in the West which firms as a realistic target again this season should they remain healthy.
With three 20-plus ppg scorers and a pair of former Defensive Player of the Year winners in their starting five, the Grizzlies should prove difficult to play on both sides of the ball.
