The Memphis Grizzlies have high aspirations. They want to be the next big thing in the West, but they already fell short of that lofty goal this past season. Now, Ja Morant will be suspended for 25 games to start the season, so the rest of the team will have to set the stage for a more successful run without their superstar. This comes in addition to the fact that there is still a gaping Dillon-Brooks-shaped hole on the roster that desperately needs to be filled.
Between Morant and Brooks, the Grizzlies are losing around 40 points per game, and there is only so much the Grizzlies can expect from David Roddy and Zaire Williams at this point in their careers. Morant put his teammates in a tricky situation, forcing them to navigate two big obstacles at the same time and find success between them. So, let’s look at four Grizzlies players who must step up in his absence.
Grizzlies player #4: Tyus Jones
Tyus Jones is the most obvious pick here. Their starting point guard is out, so the backup has to step in. Jones has big shoes to fill, however. Last season, Morant averaged 26.2 points and 8.1 assists per game. Replacing that kind of production is tough.
Luckily, the Grizzlies have had to gather some experience playing without Morant over the past two seasons and have fared pretty well. In 2022–23, Jones averaged 16.4 points on efficient shooting, 8.1 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.8 steals as a starter. Those are the numbers of a starting-level point guard on a contending team, but it is still a huge step down from Morant’s scoring. On the other hand, Jones is very careful with the ball and a better defender than Morant. He only averaged 1.5 turnovers per game as a starter, compared to Morant’s 3.4.
This is not the first time that Jones has had to fill in for Morant, but he will have to do it for an extended period this time around. He will have to be at his best to not only keep the team afloat but also to set a positive tone for a season that is starting on a negative note. The Grizzlies need Jones to show the same efficiency, ball security, and playmaking he has displayed before while ideally adding a couple of points scoring-wise.
Grizzlies player #3: Desmond Bane
Bane was the Grizzlies’ second-leading scorer last season, averaging 21.5 points per game. Now, it will be up to him to take another step forward and lead the team in that category. We watched him do it before. When Morant was injured in last year’s playoffs, Bane rose to the challenge and showed significant growth as both a playmaker and a scorer.
Over his three seasons in the league, Bane went from averaging 9.2 points and 1.7 assists in his rookie year to putting up 21.5 points and 4.4 assists per game in 2022-23. He seems to be constantly growing as a player, but can he take another leap? Can he handle more responsibility?
He will have to. While Morant is out, Bane will have to be the team’s leader on the court. He will have to score as much as possible, handle the ball, and be aggressive. Last season, Morant averaged 8.1 free throw attempts per game. That is an incredibly valuable number and while Bane won’t necessarily have to replace that all by himself, he and Jaren Jackson Jr. will have to put pressure on the defense.
All this is a lot of responsibility for Bane. He is not meant to be the number-one option on a team with high playoff aspirations. At the same time, however, this chance could open the door to his first All-Star selection if he rises to the challenge.
Grizzlies player #2: Luke Kennard
Tyus Jones is arguably the best backup point guard in the NBA. Inserting him into the starting lineup is not a problem. The problem is that he doesn’t have a backup. The Grizzlies essentially have three options here: add a veteran point guard in free agency, draft an older, more experienced prospect with the 25th pick, or rely on Bane and Kennard to provide secondary ballhandling and playmaking.
After arriving in Memphis at the 2023 trade deadline, Kennard averaged 2.3 assists and played 17 percent of his minutes at the point guard position per Cleaning the Glass. The last time he played more minutes at the point was back in the 2020-21 season with the Clippers. He needs to be ready to take on more ballhandling and playmaking duties than he is used to or maybe even comfortable with. Considering the roster’s current state and that there is only one available point guard, everyone will need to pitch in – Kennard especially, as his minutes will likely increase significantly with a shorter backcourt rotation.
Most importantly, however, Kennard will have to be comfortable taking a lot of shots. His three-point shooting will be crucial in making up for all the lost scoring. He and Bane were by far the best shooters on the team last season. With Bane having to shoulder so many other responsibilities once the season starts, Kennard will have to step up as the primary shooting threat. The Grizzlies need more than just one reliable shooter on their supporting cast but if at least Kennard can stretch the floor, he will make it much easier for Bane and Jackson to put pressure on the defense.
Grizzlies player #1: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jackson is the Grizzlies’ defensive backbone, their fierce rim protector, but he is also their second All-Star. Now, it is time for him to solidify that position. His defense is crucial to the Grizzlies’ success but while Morant is suspended, he needs to produce more offensively and be aggressive as a scorer.
Over Morant’s last suspension, Jackson averaged 28 points over four games. That is exactly the kind of production the Grizzlies need from him to start the new season. If he can do that, it will not only put his team in a good position to chase their dream of being one of the best teams in the West. It would also put him in the conversation as one of the best young two-way players in the game.
The first step to getting there for Jackson is watching his fouls. He is notorious for getting into foul trouble and the Grizzlies cannot afford to have one of their All-Stars suspended and the other one in danger of fouling out every game. So, Jackson will have to take on the challenge, play clean defense, up his offensive production and take over the team’s reins together with Bane.