2023-24 Grizzlies roster review and outlook

The Memphis Grizzlies’ season was like a wild flight — a lot of turbulence, but saw sunshine through the storms.

The Memphis Grizzlies season went through major turbulence this season. They were already behind the 8-ball with Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension. Then, Steven Adams was ruled out for the season to repair a knee injury that wasn’t progressing.

From there, it was a snowball effect.

Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard hit the injury report midway through November until Morant returned. The Grizzlies went on a 6-3 stretch when Morant returned — with signature moments in New Orleans and Los Angeles.

Then, Morant injured his shoulder. Out for the season.

Two games later, Smart fractured his finger. Out for the season.

In that same week, Desmond Bane sprained his ankle. Out for two months.

That ruthless week ultimately meant storms the rest of the way.

While the flight of the season didn’t pan out quite the way everyone expected, some sunshine beamed through the clouds on their journey. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane grew as versatile offensive weapons, with more creation responsibilities and defensive attention they’ve ever encountered. Vince Williams and GG Jackson snatched the opportunity by the horns and solidified themselves as key fixtures in the Grizzlies’ plans. Then, Brandon Clarke returned after tearing his achilles in March 2023 — and in large part, looked like the BC of before.

With that said, many players were a part of the team’s journey through the season — some in quick passing, some for the long haul, and others with a status to be determined.

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“Thank you for your contributions”

The Grizzlies rostered a NBA-record 33 players. So to those roster exception players — Timmy Allen, Jack White, Zavier Simpson, Shaquille Harrison, Tosan Evbuomwan, Wenyen Gabriel, Maozinha Pereira, Matthew Hurt, DeJon Jarreau, Jaylen Nowell — thank you for the contributions.

Some notes on a few other players no longer on the Memphis Grizzlies.

• Kenneth Lofton Jr. was out of the rotation once the Grizzlies signed Bismack Biyombo. He was the roster casualty, as Biyombo provided a solid veteran presence at the center position through the 1st 25 games. His bucket-getting and nostalgic style of play were thrills.

• The Grizzlies signed Bismack Biyombo when they got the roster exception due to Ja Morant’s suspension. Biyombo filled in the starting center role admirably with his rim protection, rebounding, and screening. However, the Grizzlies needed to make room to open a roster spot for Vince Williams Jr., leading to them waiving Biyombo.

• Steven Adams did not play due to knee surgery to repair a lingering PCL injury, but we cannot forget his undeniable impact the prior 2 seasons.

• Xavier Tillman was entering unrestricted free agent, and it was tough to see him coming back, since the Grizzlies are so close to the 2nd apron. His value defensively is off the charts, but he struggled offensively as a shooter and finisher. The Grizzlies moved him to a contender, while acquiring assets in return — a win-win.

• David Roddy was moved in a 3-team trade that netted the Grizzlies Yuta Watanabe and a 2026 pick swap. GG Jackson and Vince Williams’ emergences created a bigger prospect logjam at the wing, leading to Roddy’s exit. Roddy arguably had the largest sample of the young wings, and perhaps a more definitive evaluation — as he hasn’t quite captured the 3-and-D skillset, impact envisioned.

Jordan Goodwin

• 1 thought on his season: I was pretty unfamiliar with Goodwin’s game upon his arrival, but he’s an impeccable rebounder from the guard position. He’s a surprising stat-stuffer.

• Outlook into the offseason: He’s currently not under contract for next season, and he’s probably the Grizzly least likely to be on the roster. He proved to be a NBA contributor though.

Trey Jemison

• 1 thought on his season: Everything I said about Jemison is in my 2-way contract column from this week. He provided some bruiser depth quite well, as it was much-needed for this team.

• Outlook into the offseason: Jemison’s future on the team is murky, but he could easily be an extra body in the frontcourt if his number is called. Players with his work ethic and attitude — coupled with his size — will get looks on rosters.

Scotty Pippen Jr.

• 1 thought on his season: Again with Jemison, already went deeper on Pippen’s performance this week. Pippen made an impact from day one and proved he belonged in the league.

• Outlook into the offseason: I don’t see Pippen’s roster spot getting converted, unless Rose surprisingly retires. Nonetheless, he’s earned consideration to be the 3rd guard behind Ja Morant and the staggered lineup between Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane — as the roster stands.

Yuta Watanabe

• 1 thought on his season: We didn’t see much of Yuta due to injury and then personal reasons. I hope everything is well with Watanabe and whatever he has going on.

• Outlook into the offseason: Watanabe has a player option for next season. It could be an easy opt-in, but comments in a recent interview could indicate otherwise.

Lamar Stevens

• 1 thought on his season: Stevens was a pleasant surprise, providing defensive toughness and mid-range scoring. His production gives him a case to be re-signed this summer.

• Outlook into the offseason: Stevens fits the bill of the quintessential “next man up.” He can defend multiple positions, get into the paint, and provide some scoring pop. It shouldn’t break the bank to retain him, though the Grizzlies would need to tweak the roster to open a spot for him.

Derrick Rose

• 1 thought on his season: Rose’s time on the court was sporadic due to injuries, but when we saw him, his rim pressure was still evident. His biggest contribution came in the locker room, as his teammates unprompted mentioned his impact as a veteran.

• Outlook into the offseason: Rose should remain on the roster, as long as he doesn’t retire (which doesn’t seem like his plans). Great teams save roster spots at the end of the bench for veteran wisdom, and Rose has fulfilled the role of veteran leader quite well.

Jake LaRavia

• 1 thought on his season: LaRavia really found his groove on both sides of the floor after the All-Star break, showcasing his skillset after injuries prevented him from doing so the past two years.

• Outlook into the offseason: Out of anyone in the 10-15 range of the roster (so LaRavia, Ziaire, Konchar, Stevens, Yuta, Rose), LaRavia should hold the highest priority to maintain. His skillset as a 6’8” forward is intriguing, and makes him a viable option to step in for minutes at the 3 or 4 when his number is called.

John Konchar

• 1 thought on his season: Konchar’s defensive impact was awesome to watch, but his 3-point shooting slipped and hinders him from being a 3-and-D wing.

• Outlook into the offseason: Konchar’s extension kicks in next season, as he’ll be slated to make $6M each year until the 2026-27 campaign. How they approach his contract will be interesting. If he stays, he’s likely in the “next man up” spot as the 11th man, a role he’s thrived in.

Ziaire Williams

• 1 thought on his season: It was a rollercoaster year for Ziaire Williams — as a more prominent role led to inconsistency. Once he showed upside of putting it together, he lost the rest of the season with an injured hip.

• Outlook into the offseason: Williams is now an expiring contract with restricted free agency on the way in the 2025 offseason. It looks like GG Jackson and Vince Williams have surpassed him in the pecking order. With money decisions looming, do the Grizzlies try to get him into a situation where more playing time can be promised?

Santi Aldama

• 1 thought on his season: Santi Aldama didn’t have the leap people expected, but he’s still a solid perimeter big with live-dribble juice. He should only look better around NBA-level playmaking (reminder of how much better Ja Morant makes his teammates).

• Outlook into the offseason: Aldama is also extension-eligible this summer. I don’t know where talks will land there. Nonetheless, he’s someone who could still be an impactful bench piece next season, or be a sweetener in a trade to bolster the rotation with another starter-level player.

Luke Kennard

• 1 thought on his season: Kennard’s shooting didn’t miss a beat, even with more playmaking responsibilities and a heightened emphasis against his opponents. The team leaned into his playmaking, and he served as a steady veteran to feed the young guys scoring opportunities.

• Outlook into the offseason: Kennard has a $14.8M team option this summer. The Grizzlies really need shooting, as they are 29th in the league in 3-point accuracy. Unless they have a plan to offset the shooting loss, Kennard should be brought back — especially if they can get him to a deal that lowers the salary number with an extra year.

Vince Williams

• 1 thought on his season: Vince Williams accomplished a development I wanted to see this season: role depth from the defensive stopper spot. Against the league’s elite, he emerged as a menacing stopper — which will bode well against teams with multiple star-level weapons.

• Outlook into the offseason: If there’s any injury I’m worried about, it’s Vince Williams’ knee. He missed out a month of reps due to tendinitis. It could’ve been out of caution, as Williams grew a ton as a two-way player, but it still stood out.

GG Jackson

• 1 thought on his season: GG Jackson dispelled any notion of character and scalability issues from pre-draft. He showed he can thrive in a team context, when he’s not the focal point of the offense, while having a positive attitude through this season. Top that with his tantalizing skillset as a 6’9” wing, and his future is bright.

• Outlook into the offseason: GG Jackson could have a massive summer. Nothing would be sweeter than watching Jackson have the classic “too good for Summer League” run for a few games.

Brandon Clarke

• 1 thought on his season: Probably one of the most enjoyable storylines of the season, Brandon Clarke is back and looks a lot like his old self. His springs on his dunks aren’t the same (yet), but his impact and feathery floater have seamlessly returned.

• Outlook into the offseason: If the Grizzlies roll with a rookie center or a veteran that doesn’t need to start, is Clarke the answer next to Jackson? He’s always been a sparkplug off the bench, a role he’s comfortable with. However, there’s a large sample of his fit with Jackson, and it’s really freaking good.

Marcus Smart

• 1 thought on his season: Smart’s first season in Memphis was a tale of 2 stretches: trying to get acclimated with his new teammates prior to his 1st injury, then returning and finding a groove before his season-ending finger injury. Nonetheless, he made a number of winning plays where it was easy to envision his fit in a postseason context.

• Outlook into the offseason: Smart’s role next season will be interesting. He’s getting older, as he’s 30 years old, and he has a lot of miles injury. Could the emergence of GG Jackson and Vince Williams shift Smart to a 6th man role? From a traditional positional layout, it makes sense. I’d have Smart starting as of now, but it’s going to be a development to monitor.

Desmond Bane

• 1 thought on his season: Bane really took a step as an offensive weapon, identifying his creation opportunities as the focal point of an opposing team’s scouting report. Unfortunately, an ankle sprain halted his season, and ultimately zapped the Grizzlies’ postseason chances.

• Outlook into the offseason: This is Bane’s 2nd season where his back was a problem for him, so just hoping there isn’t anything concerning there. Also can the Grizzlies not have another 25-5-5 campaign from Bane cut off due to injury?

Jaren Jackson Jr.

• 1 thought on his season: Jackson held down the fort for the core, and he made immense growth as a creator. His reads have become more advanced, learning how to attack mismatches and coverages as a scorer and a passer.

• Outlook into the offseason: Given Jackson’s growth as a creator, it should only help his offensive game in a healthier context. Defenses won’t be able to leave their guys as easily, and he should have more room to operate — a major key for one of the league’s best isolation, post scorers.

Ja Morant

• 1 thought on his season: The season-ending shoulder was a massive blow to the comeback campaign Ja Morant was loading up. Between his buzzer-beating return, showdowns with Victor Wembanyama, and a dazzling LA performance — Morant reminded everyone of his superstar prowess.

• Outlook into the offseason: I can speak for arguably every reader and sensible basketball follower when I say, we need to see Ja Morant play through a fully healthy season. It’s halted too many special runs.

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