Following the Memphis Grizzlies' disastrous Game 1 showing against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs, they have a lot of questions that need to be answered. One of them is who will step up for them over the rest of the series.
Star Jaren Jackson Jr. has been their best player this year, but he shot just 2-13 from the field and scored an embarrassing 4 points. That underscores larger concerns for Jackson Jr., who will soon be eligible for a max contract, which will pay him 30% of the salary cap.
Jackson Jr. has improved by leaps and bounds on the offensive end, but his offensive style is polarizing at best. If he continues to struggle and the Grizzlies again fail to advance in the playoffs, then it could lead to an offseason shakeup this summer.
The Memphis Grizzlies will soon have a major decision to make regarding Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Grizzlies shocked the NBA world when they fired one of the best coaches in the league, Taylor Jenkins, ahead of the playoffs. That, combined with rumors surrounding the potential trade availability of star Ja Morant, makes it fair to wonder about the Grizzlies' future.
After his awful Game 1 performance, ESPN's Kendrick Perkins unloaded on Jackson Jr., even calling him "overhyped."
While he may have gone overboard with his criticism, there is some truth to it. If Jackson Jr. is offered a max contract, he'd be making $345 million over the next five seasons.
At 25 years old, that would cover most of his prime, but paying him that much seems like a massive mistake just waiting to happen. Jackson Jr. is a terrific defensive player and a good offensive player, even if his game is a bit unsightly.
The Grizzlies can't afford to pay Jackson Jr. like a superstar if he isn't one
For him to make that much, he needs to be one of the 10 best players in the NBA, and he's probably much closer to being top 25.
With the new collective bargaining agreement, offering that much to a player who isn't top-10 could be disastrous. Especially for a small-market team. No way would the Grizzlies be able to continue to pay Morant, Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane at least $35 million each, with Jackson Jr. set to make nearly $70 million a season.
Ultimately, the Grizzlies will still likely extend Jackson Jr. this summer. Nevertheless, if Jackson Jr. continues to play that poorly, and they again come up short, then Memphis may also need to rethink their core and whether he is the player to build around going forward.