5 lineups I want to see Grizzlies run in 2024-25 season

Despite the lack of roster turnover this season, the Memphis Grizzlies have fascinating, new lineup combinations to tap into.

The Memphis Grizzlies have shuffled the deck a decent amount the past few seasons, which in turn has led to exploring lineups that had either little or no sample size. Last year, there were lineups out on the floor nobody would’ve imagined seeing. Though the roster didn’t turn over that much, the healthier version of this team will look a lot different than past years.

The Grizzlies have a new starting center in Zach Edey. The Marcus Smart experience only has a 20-game sample. Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson have replaced Ziaire Williams and David Roddy as the young wings. And most importantly, Ja Morant is back.

The Grizzlies have a lot of options at their disposal — with the biggest asterisk being health. With that said, as part of my annual exercise, here are five lineups I’m wanting to see Taylor Jenkins roll out next season.

1. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, GG Jackson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey

This lineup goes first for many reasons. For starters, it’s the one the Grizzlies followers probably want to see the most. It’s the Big 3 with two players with the upside to potentially make this a “Core 4,” or even a “Fab 5.”

The element with this lineup that stands out to me is the positional size. When building around a smaller guard, size at the other 4 positions is imperative. With these four players surrounding Morant, the size trends positive.

Bane may not be the biggest 2-guard height-wise, but he’s a strong guard with toughness leveraged on both sides of the ball. GG fits the vision of the type of big wing the Grizzlies have been seeking. Jaren already has the size advantage over most 5’s, so he’s a massive 4. Edey has the most significant size advantage of any player in the league not named Victor Wembanyama.

Defensively, my only concern is the lack of a true defensive stopper. In this lineup, they’re likely leaning on GG Jackson to guard the opposing team’s best perimeter player — as they’re challenging him to grow in that specific space. If there are additional concerns, Jaren and Edey could shut the water off in the paint. Jaren in his natural element as a rim-roamer that defends either perimeter 4’s or non-shooting wings shrinks the floor for the opposition. Is that enough to minimize the risk of not having a true stopper? Probably — although, you could insert Marcus Smart or Vince Williams for GG, but I’ll save that conversation for after preseason.

The enamor with this lineup comes offensively. The Grizzlies have real firepower with these five players, especially within their fits for each other. Ja Morant is obviously the head of the snake. The pick-and-roll with him and Edey will be a staple of the offense. As Morant comes off the screen, he has these options:

• get himself a bucket near the free throw line or in the paint

• kick it out to either Desmond Bane, GG Jackson, or Jaren Jackson Jr.

• find the 7’5” Edey off the roll

Expanding upon the “kick it out” option, all three players have the skillset to put the ball on the floor, if the defenses sells too hard on the closeout — which could create more shifts in the defense.

Minor detail in this, but when examining GG Jackson’s role, I tend to look at an upgrade version of the one Ziaire Williams played when sharing the floor with Morant. The corner will be a likely primary spot for Jackson, and the “Michael Porter Jr.” role has been one GG has specifically mentioned wanting to play alongside the Big 3. It won’t be just shooting 3’s though. He’ll play in handoff’s with Edey — like Williams did with Steven Adams. He’ll be a transition threat alongside Morant and Bane. In the halfcourt, Jackson could capitalize on the attention Morant captures downhill by cutting the baseline as an alley-oop threat.

When Taylor Jenkins rolls out this lineup, many fans will be excited because of the upside of each individual player in this unit. Unfortunately, we may have to wait until 2025 to see it after GG Jackson’s foot injury.

2. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr.

One of the biggest questions of the 2024-25 season will be how Marcus Smart fits with the Grizzlies. Last season, he only played 20 games. It was largely an accumulation process with joining a new team, then recovering from an ankle injury. As he found his groove, he endured a season-ending finger injury.

When assessing the question of Smart’s fit, I have always leaned into being unconventional with him. Though standing as a 6’3” guard, Smart is a position-less player. Offensively, he can operate on and off the ball — initiate actions, run the pick-and-roll ball-handler or screener, spot up, hang out in the dunker spot, or run handoff’s in Delay and Zoom actions.

To gauge Marcus Smart’s fit, I point to Bruce Brown’s role — as his skillset as a power guard has captivated a broader basketball audience, and even played a pivotal role in Denver’s championship run in 2022. Not only can Marcus Smart perform that role, but he’s also a better player in this role.

Though in a limited sample, the Grizzlies were better with Big 3 and Smart when there wasn’t a traditional big man out on the floor as the 5th guy.

(Although I’m unsure it becomes an issue with Edey, as he’s a better finisher and has significantly more size than Tillman and Biyombo).

The one with Santi Aldama as the 5th guy is the most intriguing lineup option for the Big 3 and Smart units. The Grizzlies may have a size discrepancy 1-3, but they’re likely to offset it with an advantage Jackson and Aldama from the big man positions. In the meantime, with three other shooters (Bane, Aldama, Jackson), Smart can function more as a nominal big man. He can be the screener in the pick-and-roll and open up opportunities as a short-roller playmaker, he can be a lurker around the dunker’s spot, or he can be a next-action playmaker.

Beyond Smart, the Grizzlies have true optionality, because they have five dribble-pass-shoot guys. There should be plenty of spacing for downhill motion, which could open up drive-and-kick opportunities across all five positions at all angles of the floor.

The defense should be strong enough. Bane and Smart lock down the perimeter. Jackson and Aldama can alternate anchoring and roaming. Morant can be a free safety that jumps passing lanes.

This lineup has the two-way optionality to unlock cool sets and actions, and to also deploy its big offseason target from last summer.

3. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Vince Williams Jr., Brandon Clarke, Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Grizzlies have been electric when they pair the Big 3 with Brandon Clarke. Since the 2021-22 season, they boast a +15.8 NET rating — 120.2 offensive rating and 104.4 defensive rating — in an unfortunately low 182 minutes, per PBP stats. In the 2022 playoffs, that number jumped to +21.2 — 129.8 offensive rating and 108.5 defensive rating — in 141 (non garbage time) possessions, per Cleaning the Glass.

It’s been an elite quartet that became a crunch-time staple. The return to its gaudy efficiency hinges on Brandon Clarke, who helps unlock combinations with his ability to play a faster, modernized staple as a high-efficiency play-finisher.

I’m not concerned about his offense. He looked good, just rusty. The touch on his floater is still immaculate — I’m interested in how he expands it to the mid-range and 3-point line. He should return as an above-the-rim finisher after getting his legs underneath him.

I’m curious about his defense. Can he return close to form as a rim protector — a major key as an undersized big man? In addition, can he show he can still hold his own in switches? He’s not this Bam Adebayo or Draymond Green level switcher, but he’s been formidable enough to allow the Grizzlies to switch more.

Brandon Clarke’s return to form — and the percentage he is of his pre-injury self — is a major key for the Grizzlies’ closing lineups. He makes them more malleable to different lineups and coverages they face.

In the 5th spot, I could easily go Marcus Smart. It will likely be Marcus Smart. However, I went with Vince Williams for several reasons — side note, will elaborate later, but he’s a major swing piece for Memphis. For starters, he proved himself to be the type of defensive stopper you want on stars. He possesses the size and length to be effective there, as well as in passing lanes. He leverages his tools to disrupt and cause chaos. He’s another committee rebounder on both sides of the floor.

More importantly, when it’s winning time, I want to emphasize the Big 3. In the process, I want to slot them with low-usage, high-efficiency players that will do the dirty work on both sides of the floor. Vince Williams and Brandon Clarke fit that to a T.

The beauty with the Grizzlies’ roster construction is the optionality with its closing lineups. Taylor Jenkins will likely ride the hot hand around the Big 3. They can go big with Zach Edey, or they can be more versatile with Brandon Clarke or Santi Aldama. Marcus Smart and Vince Williams Jr. add defensive fortitude that can handle an opposing team’s perimeter star in crucial moments. GG Jackson and Luke Kennard can add complementary perimeter firepower, making teams pay for collapsing on drives — though at varying degrees.

When it comes to winning time in the big regular season games or the postseason, it wouldn’t shock me to see this unit the most often.

4. Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, Vince Williams Jr., Brandon Clarke, Jaren Jackson Jr.

The staggered lineups are key, and it’s important to build the right lineups when any of the Big 3 have to sit.

This staggered lineup could be a potential run-starter at the beginning of 2nd and 4th quarters. In these situations, the Grizzlies have had Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Brandon Clarke.

Around them, I’m seeking chaos — stifling defense, forced turnovers, defensive versatility, and transition offense. Pairing the most versatile defensive frontcourt with two elite perimeter defenders is a recipe for success.

Offensively, the Grizzlies could tap into the on-ball growth of Bane and Jackson in this minutes. And in this instance, they aren’t the only creators. Smart can facilitate alongside Bane either in first or next actions — enabling the latter’s catch-and-shoot prowess. Williams’ growth as a playmaker gives the Grizzlies another slasher that can put the ball on the deck when the defense shifts or closes out too hard. Clarke fills in as an efficient play-finisher in pick-and-roll’s, dump-off’s, or second-chance scoring opportunities.

When the Grizzlies have Morant off the floor, they need enough firepower as possible. This unit provides tons of two-way firepower that could extend runs and leads for Memphis.

5. Ja Morant, Luke Kennard, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey

This one is really simple: give the Ja Morant and Zach Edey pick-and-roll as much as possible.

This lineup combination gives defenses deadly “pick your poisons” decisions.

Ja Morant coming off the pick-and-roll is the first domino. If the defense wants to help, where are they selling off?

Edey rolling to the basket, or one of those 3 shooters?

Likewise, defenses will tag on Edey to prevent an easy two points. However, will perimeter defenders leave two of the best shooters in the league in Luke Kennard and Desmond Bane?

When assessing lineups that could amplify the team’s halfcourt offense, this unit best accomplishes it. They have two playmakers that can operate in ball screens, the NBA’s most accurate shooter of the past half-decade, a versatile big man that can shoot and put the ball on the deck, and an easy bucket in the paint.

People will be skeptical of minutes next for Ja Morant and Luke Kennard for defensive reasons. I understand it — Jackson’s presence should alleviate it. But at the same time, at some point, you have to look at the offensive firepower. The sample isn’t as plentiful as the Grizzlies would like, they scored 124.07 points per 100 possessions in 267 minutes with Morant and Kennard on the floor since the 2022-23 season, per PBP Stats. There’s real benefit to ignite real offensive firepower for a couple 4-minute stretches of a game.

Honorable mentions

• Demsond Bane, John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr., Brandon Clarke, Jaren Jackson Jr.

This lineup would be for the Grizzlies to provide Jackson with ample amount of potential rebounding, as John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. are the two best rebounders from the wing position. To make up for the potential lack in shooting, I made Desmond Bane the de facto point guard.

• Ja Morant, Luke Kennard, GG Jackson, Jake LaRavia, Jaren Jackson Jr.

This an iteration of the “space the floor for the pick-and-roll.” Does it have enough defense? TBD. However, I like the size with GG and LaRavia on the wings to complement Jaren in the frontcourt. All five players can also attack closeouts to create more shifts within the defense.

• Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, GG Jackson, Santi Aldama, Brandon Clarke

When thinking about starting lineups, it’s natural to think of the bench unit. If Vince Williams started at the 3, this would be the likely (healthy) 5 off the bench. You can even swap Jackson for Williams, if the sophomore is the starter. I’m not a proponent for all-bench lineups, and Taylor Jenkins stays away from them too. However, this 5 intrigues me. There’s not a true go-to option, enabling some variance. Defense may not hold up all too great. However, it’s a solid unit that can be effective in pinches.

The Memphis Grizzlies have plenty of options at its disposal, the versatility to go with a bunch of different looks to throw at teams. What’s a lineup you want Taylor Jenkins to roll out there this season?

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