4 most interesting Grizzlies players this season, and beyond

These four players could pay dividends for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2024-25 season and beyond for their championship aspirations.

The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the most fascinating teams in the league this season. After two years emphatically arriving as a top-3 team in the Western Conference, they experienced a gap year. Now, an electric Ja Morant — an All-NBA player and an engine of the offense, when healthy — is returning from injury with two co-stars Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., who took sizable creation leaps in his absence. That trio is as good as any other in the league due to the talent and cohesion between them.

You look around them, and even though the roster turnover didn’t pop off in the summer, their supporting cast has been revamped. It’s an unknown that could pay dividends in the team context next to the Big 3. Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson replace Ziaire Williams and David Roddy as young wings in the rotation — Jake LaRavia and Jaylen Wells can crash this discussion too. The Grizzlies have found its center of the now and future in Zach Edey — an upgrade in size compared to 6’8” Bismack Biyombo and Xavier Tillman last season. There’s only a 20-game sample of Marcus Smart. Brandon Clarke, Luke Kennard, and Santi Aldama are back and capable of impacting winning. There’s a lot of upside to tap into here.

The return of the trio, the shuffled supporting cast, and the Grizzlies’ new offense makes for a vastly fascinating season — one in which deep playoff expectations exist.

While the team goes as their Big 3 rolls, these four players are intriguing components to the Grizzlies’ system for the 2024-25 season and beyond.

Zach Edey

I’m going to keep this one simple, because I’ve gone deep into the Zach Edey fit with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Several national podcasts have already mentioned Edey as an interesting player league-wide. He was a polarizing prospect evaluation for most draft circles, but his landing spot has drawn intrigue and optimism.

Edey will be good, especially in Memphis. He has the perfect table-setter in Ja Morant, and a stellar partner to patrol the paint in, former Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr. He has the skillset and opportunity to fill gaps with his rebounding and screen-setting. The questions are about how good he can be, and if it’s a difference-maker for the Grizzlies’ contention odds.

Edey should be an upgrade over their center rotation last year — Bismack Biyombo and Xavier Tillman. A lot of it is because his size just amplifies certain areas, mainly as a finisher, rim protector, and rebounder. How good can Edey be? Can he prove to be a starting-quality center?

Edey will have rookie mistakes — that shouldn’t shock anyone. Teams will test him in space when mismatch-hunting. It may not be pretty at times. However, some opponents will be shocked when they can’t shake Edey in space.

The pathway to being a starting-quality center is clear: set good screens, finish well at the rim, and block shots. And from there, he can flash upside of an opponent expanding bag with how he reads the floor for his teammates and shoots the 3-ball — just one three attempted a game would be sweet.

Edey’s readiness and production as a NBA starting center could be a huge difference for the Grizzlies’ contention status.

Vince Williams Jr.

Vince Williams was one of the two bright spots from last season’s gap year. He’s the player on the wing that could really shake things up for Memphis.

Williams quickly solidified his spot within the Grizzlies’ rotation and pecking order with his defensive activity. He adds more role depth with defensive stopping. It’s not only key for when Marcus Smart has to rest, but it’s an important development in a league where you have to account for multiple star-level creators when going deep in the postseason.

Expanding upon his defensive chaos, his activity is at the core of his skillset. He’s a madman on the glass — grabs a defensive rebound 16.3% of possessions off missed field goals, ranks in the 99th percentile among wings per Cleaning the Glass. He’s a superb cutter, converting 18/21 on his field goal attempts off cuts (per Synergy Sports), something that should be amplified in the new offense. As Desmond Bane went down, he really seized the opportunity in a playmaker role — showcasing the ability to make wonderful reads with quick decision-making.

Williams emerged as a key component of the Grizzlies’ present and future, and they really need to become a bonafide playoff-rotation caliber player this season.

He fits a coveted archetype for NBA role players — long, active wing defender that can handle multiple positional archetypes, shoot the 3-ball, crash the glass, and be effective in a low-usage role. As the Grizzlies orbit around Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr., you want this kind of player alongside them.

Upon his return, what am I monitoring for his third year?

Offensively, it’s about exploiting the shifts in the defense as a shooter, decision-maker, and cutter. Williams is a consistent outside shooter with steady efficiency above the break and in the corners as a 37% catch-and-shoot wing. He won’t be a primary playmaker, and maybe not even a secondary one. In a tertiary role, can he leverage his outside shooting to attack closeouts, and either finish at the rim or make the next read? Finally, in this movement-centric offense, his cutting could manufacture easy scoring tries or offensive rebounding opportunities.

Defensively, Williams’ stopping and overall production will be pivotal. His defensive stopping won’t go away, and it should be fascinating how he and Marcus Smart toggle those responsibilities. With a lighter offensive workload, can he rev up the event creation? His block percentage (1.1) was in the 81st percentile among wings, but his steal percentage (1.4) was in the 56th percentile — per Cleaning the Glass. He has the skillset to really create chaos in this department.

Finally, the production is what intrigues me the most, as his defensive estimated plus/minus falls in line with some intriguing 3-and-D wings.

Age-23 + peak dEPM numbers

• Mikal Bridges: +1.8 (23 and peak)

• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: -0.1 (23), +2.3 (2016)

• OG Anunoby: +2.4 (23), +3.3 (2023)

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker: -0.9 (23), +3.0 (2024)

• Vince Williams Jr.: +1.7 (last season)

I list these names for two reasons. One, two of these players — Bridges and Anunoby — were two prime trade targets for the Grizzlies, and they serve as a good barometer of where Williams is defensively. The other names, Alexander-Walker and Caldwell-Pope, resemble the type of role Williams could play on a contender. Both players are rangy 3-and-D wings that apply pressure at the point of attack and that hit shots in complementary roles. Looking at the numbers, Alexander-Walker took a monster defensive leap on an insanely talented defensive squad, but Caldwell-Pope was a good defender in Denver’s title run (+1.1 dEPM) and a below-neutral one in the Lakers’ championship campaign (-0.7 dEPM).

These outcomes are not out of the realm of possibilities for Williams to play even next year. His skillset should thrive in this complementary role on a healthier squad, as his strengths will be amplified.

Santi Aldama

Santi Aldama may be entering the biggest season of any Memphis Grizzlies player — outside the “Big 3.” Unless an extension is signed prior to the season, Aldama could be heading towards restricted free agency next summer.

When assessing his extension odds, Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington has put it the best way: he hasn’t established himself as a core piece (or even like Clarke as a key role player), but he’s far from a lost cause (Ziaire Williams, David Roddy).

Last season, Aldama didn’t have the leap many envisioned. While seeing a small boost in counting stats, his efficiency suffered.

• Points per Shot Attempt: 119.2 → 108.5 (per Cleaning the Glass)

• FG% at the Rim: 68 → 63%

• Corner 3: 36 → 29%

Is it a plateau? I doubt it. His skillset hinges on good guard play, since he’s more of a play-finisher than creator. I’m looking to see where these numbers trend with Morant, Bane, and Smart back in the fold.

Aldama has the platform to have a leap this season. He had a stellar summer in FIBA action as Spain’s best player. In addition, the new offense caters to Aldama’s skillset. His size should also make him an easy cutting target in the Grizzlies’ new movement-centric offense. It’s hard to find 7-footers that can shoot, put the ball on the floor, and pass. He actually made a sizable jump in assist percentage last year — going from 7.6 to 13.3% (74th percentile among bigs, per Cleaning the Glass). This new offense will put him in different spots on the floor — in the corner, in the dunker’s spot, coming off screens and handoffs, attacking closeouts. The possibilities are quite endless, and could fuel some confidence that leads to a leap.

Now, he has to show where his true defensive position lies. His mobility is shaky on the perimeter, and his strength isn’t ideal as a protector, but his rim protection numbers are superb — indicating he might be at his best as a roamer.

Aldama is in the Grizzlies’ playoff rotation, but a leap would solidify him as a key player and a potential closing option in high-stakes situations. It’s pivotal for Aldama to emerge as a closing option — as Brandon Clarke’s post-achilles form will be tested, as will Zach Edey’s readiness. Optionality is king, and having the combination of two 7-footers that can dribble, pass, shoot, and protect the rim is enticing.

A leap would stir questions about Aldama’s next contract — again, dribble-pass-shoot 7-footers are hard to find, and his age (23 years old) could signal more upside. Nonetheless, if Aldama progresses significantly, he could be a key player for the Grizzlies next year and possibly beyond.

Marcus Smart

I can call this best for last — Marcus Smart is the most intriguing Grizzlies player this season.

The Grizzlies made a big move for Smart, trading Tyus Jones and two 1st round picks (becoming the 25th pick in 2023 and the 14th pick in 2024 via Golden State — the trade tree on that pick is bananas). Smart didn’t fit the archetype of the players the Grizzlies had been targeting — to an extreme, Kevin Durant; and more notably, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby). However, Smart’s fit is clear as a chameleon player that guards any position and archetype, slots on and off the ball, runs pick-and-roll as a screener and ball-handler. More importantly, he’s the ultimate competitor that’s been places the Grizzlies want to go.

With that said, there’s just a 20-game sample due to ankle and finger injuries — the latter still baffles me, a summation of the Grizzlies’ 2023-24 campaign. The record didn’t do much to help the first impressions of the Marcus Smart experience.

Consider me bullish, I’ll buy any sold Marcus Smart stock.

Smart’s defensive impact numbers were up there with his Defensive Player of the Year campaign (+3.7 dEPM last season, compared to +2.6 in 2022). It’s hard to envision a larger sample dipping this number significantly past the +2.6 mark. He also created steals at a career-best rate. Yes, the sample is small. It’s not small enough to conclude that the Grizzlies defense is very good with Smart on the floor.

Smart is also capable of running the offense — alongside a combination of Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard, and Vince Williams Jr — when Morant is resting. Yeah, having another guard off the bench is important, but if Taylor Jenkins doesn’t want a traditional point guard in the rotation, Smart is more than capable of being the de facto 1 for 15 minutes a night. Some would point to the sample last year with Smart at the 1 — it wasn’t great, as the Grizzlies were outscored by 2.9 points per 100 possessions and only scored 108.7 points per 100 possessions (the 15th percentile among lineup data, per Cleaning the Glass). Let’s provide more context, just a sliver.

Marcus Smart at 1 with Ziaire Williams on the floor: -9.1 NET and 104.4 offensive rating in 427 possessions. Smart at 1 without Ziaire on the floor: +3.4 NET and 113.0 offensive rating in 415 possessions. (+12.5 swing)

Marcus Smart at 1 with Desmond Bane on the floor, overall: -6.7 and 106.7 offensive rating in 720 possessions. Smart at the 1 with Bane and Ziaire Williams: -16.1 and 99.4 offensive rating in 349 possessions. Smart at the 1 with Bane, and without Ziaire: +2.2 and 114 offensive rating in 371 possessions. (+18.3 swing)

Not to specifically target one player, but the sample narrative shifts significantly with one player on or off the floor. It’s more so painting a picture of lineup context. Marcus Smart at the 1 — in pinches — can work with the right pieces. After all, he was the “starting point guard” for Celtics teams that went deep in the postseason for years.

Finally, the intrigue that lies with Marcus Smart on the Grizzlies is the test of trends in the NBA. It’s a league that’s scaling up with sized skill. The Grizzlies backcourt of Morant and Bane isn’t a big one in comparison to the contenders. Smart doesn’t fit the profile of a NBA wing, especially at the 3. Again though, he’s malleable — a basketball chameleon that can shape-shift into any role. Offensively, he can fit the Bruce Brown or Josh Hart role that’s been integral for contenders — and can do some of the actions Boston ran for Holiday. Defensively, his versatility spans across positions 1-4 — while showing the capability of switching onto the league’s elite bigs of Giannis and Embiid.

Looking at the league landscape, it should be doable. Outside of Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder don’t have crazy size on the perimeter. Smart can guard Anthony Edwards. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are Smart-friendly matchups, as is Jamal Murray for Denver. The question there is about having the size on the perimeter to offset the tradeoff’s — closing out on big wings like Michael Porter Jr. or Jaden McDaniels.

If the Grizzlies can overcome the size discrepancy on the perimeter, they would be a golden example of zagging when other teams are zigging. If it’s a hindrance, it may force the team to pivot at the 3. However, if there’s any player that could buck this trend, it’s the incredibly versatile Marcus Smart.

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While the Memphis Grizzlies’ season will hinge on the performance of its star trio of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, these four players could be swing players that amplify the team and get them closer to their championship ceiling — both this season and going forward.

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