The Grizzlies have to find Jaren Jackson Jr.'s long-term frontcourt partner in 2024
The Grizzlies' center depth has been depleted with the injuries to Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke in 2023. In 2024, they should search for Jaren Jackson Jr.'s potential long-term frontcourt partner.
The Memphis Grizzlies dedicated a significant portion of 2023 into finding the wing fit next to Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson. Per ESPN’s Zach Lowe, Zach Kleiman had every draft asset for Kevin Durant, and 3 first-round picks for OG Anunoby. HoopHype’s Michael Scotto reported the Grizzlies immediately offered the Nets 4 first-round picks for Mikal Bridges after the blockbuster trade with Phoenix.
In 2023, the Grizzlies traded for Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart — though not the prototypical 3-and-D options, their value is rather evident. Kennard is a flamethrower whose 3-point shooting provides a jolt to the team’s halfcourt offense. Smart intersects several needs — veteran presence, defensive stopping, playmaking, fiery competitiveness, and battle-tested — as a wing in a combo guard’s body.
The wing situation is still imperfect, partially due to development of recent 1st-round wings. These 2 veterans — along with two-way player Vince Williams’ arrival, and Bane’s production at the 3 — allow for them to bide a bit of time to find the ideal wing fit.
2024 though, finding Jaren Jackson Jr.’s potential long-term frontcourt partner should be a priority.
2023 saw the Grizzlies lose Brandon Clarke (torn achilles) and Steven Adams (PCL sprain) to significant injuries, depleting its strong frontcourt depth — and rid them of perfect complements next to their All-Star big men. Adams and Clarke allowed them to scale up or down in size, while maintaining its principles and production:
Jackson/Adams lineups past 2 years (2021-23, per PBPstats): 9.6 NET rating, 120.9 offensive rating, 111.3 defensive rating
Clarke/Jackson lineups past 2 years: 13.4 NET rating, 118.3 offensive rating, 104.9 defensive rating
Their skillsets gave the Grizzlies’ optionality within their 5-out sets. Adams generated scoring chances for perimeter players with his bruising screens and precise dimes on cuts. Clarke slipped screens and finished plays with either his feathery floater or dynamic dunks, fueled by his pogo-stick hops.
Defensively, they provided optionality with their coverages and personnel centered around Jaren Jackson Jr.’s unmatched versatility. More size and rim protection out of drop? Steven Adams. Need to be faster and more athletic with more switching? Brandon Clarke.
Meanwhile, Xavier Tillman and Bismack Biyombo have been tasked with replacing them. While their efforts are admirable, primarily due to defensive strengths, they’re overtaxed with starter minutes and roles due to offensive deficiencies at their 6’8” size.
Add in their production and expiring contracts, and the uncertainty Clarke and Adams round back to pre-injury form — the center position is the Grizzlies’ most pressing need in 2024.
How the Grizzlies upgrade here will be one to monitor closely, but they have an idea of what skillsets are successful next to Jaren Jackson Jr. because of Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke.
The Adams model
Steven Adams’ value cannot be understated; it’s irreplaceable. He’s the ultimate connector.
Adams has been a vital hub for the Grizzlies’ around the high post as one of the best DHO big men in the league. He sets crushing screens. Since he’s been in Memphis, he’s created so many scoring opportunities with his screening — hovering around 7.69 and 7.56 screen assists per 75 possessions, the highest marks in each of the past 2 seasons among players that have played 1000+ minutes (per The B-Ball Index).
If teams cheat the handoff, Adams bides time well to throw darts to cutting teammates on their way to the basket. His effectiveness as a DHO big and as a passer made him a sweet playmaking weapon from the center position, as he’s averaged 3.0 assists per game through his time in Memphis.
It’s going to be difficult to replicate Adams’ impact on the glass, as he became the 7th player in NBA history to average 5 or more offensive rebounds in multiple seasons. His technique as a rebounder is truly unique.
The most important element of finding a long-term center of Adams’ archetype is how it amplifies Jaren Jackson Jr. Possessing a big, physical center takes pressure off Jackson from guarding true 5’s and serving as the primary anchor — unleashing their All-Defensive big as a rim roamer. At the same time, when teams are driving to the basket, two 7-footers are crashing to protect the rim.
Who could fit the mold?
Jakob Poeltl (trade). If the Raptors are indeed under a fire sale, could the Grizzlies poach their starting center? Poeltl is a massive center that thrives in drop coverage and generates scoring opportunities with his screening and connective playmaking. After locking in a 4-year deal this offseason, he can be an answer at center through 2027.
Goga Bitadze/Wendell Carter Jr. (trade/free agency). The center situation in Orlando is one to monitor. Bitadze is a pending free agent, and the Magic went on their big winning streak with him starting and Carter out. Mo Wagner will likely be a Magic as long as Franz is there. Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Paolo Banchero are due for extensions. Both young big men are rock-solid rim protectors that don’t command a lot of touches offensively.
Donovan Clingan (draft). The UConn big man has been insanely productive through his season and a half in college. Though it’s been a slow start due to illness and injuries, his skill and nimbleness at his size (7’2”, 280 pounds) is so intriguing — offering strong rim protection, as well as screening and playmaking out of Delay actions.
Kyle Filipowski (draft). Filipowski isn’t a bruising center, but his skill level at 7’0” is remarkable. Even if he doesn’t set crushing screens, he brings more versatility in 5-out actions with the threat to shoot or put the ball on the floor. His 3-point shooting and defense (3.4 stocks/game) are coming around. Duke runs through Filipowski with his playmaking and his post footwork.
Isaiah Hartenstein (sign-and-trade). A longtime favorite Grizzlies target, Hartenstein likely isn’t going anywhere because of Mitchell Robinson’s injury,. Could the Grizzlies do some sort of sign-and-trade with the Knicks? Maybe offer Adams for New York’s cap flexibility? He checks so many boxes of what Adams provides with his playmaking, defense, and rebounding. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely.
Izan Almansa (draft). Almansa has the least size of the group (6’10”, 220 pounds), but he’s a technically sound big man capable of making the right reads and crashing the glass. His production with the Ignite has cooled his stock, but teams could see how his skillset translates to winning through his accomplished international career.
The Clarke model
Identifying a player like Clarke is hard. There aren’t many players like him. But really think about it — how many 6’8” big men are there that can operate as a 5, possess elite athleticism, show off deft touch on a floater, and can toggle between rim protection and switching? Not many. Maybe not any.
Nobody on the Grizzlies possesses roll gravity and versatility like Clarke. Last season, he dropped 1.4 points per possession out of the pick-and-roll — 3rd among players with 75+ possessions as the roll man, per Synergy Sports. Operating as a ghost screener, he can slip the pick into the short roll to make another pass off the help, rise up for the floater, or put the ball on the floor to get back to the basket.
He’s their only vertical spacer as an alley-oop target in the pick-and-roll.
Defensively, pairing Jackson with another switcher has been a solid infrastructure for a great defense — as lineups with Jackson and Clarke have ranked in the 96th percentile or higher in defensive rating through the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, per Cleaning the Glass.
Targeting a player with a similar skillset to Clarke should also come with size — still allowing Jackson to play the 4, while giving Morant a legitimate lob threat.
Who fits the mold?
Daniel Gafford (trade). Gafford may not be on the trade block as the Wizards’ lone big man, unless Washington leans heavy into their rebuild (tank for Cooper Flagg). Gafford has shot 70% from the field for his career, making the most of his minimal touches. He’s also a formidable rim protector and rebounder.
Jarrett Allen (trade). Jarrett Allen may be the hardest player to acquire here. If the Grizzlies want to slightly overpay, Cleveland could welcome the assets — especially after the trade with Donovan Mitchell in 2022. Allen is the best intersection of Adams and Clarke’s skillsets possible as a connective playmaker, lob threat, and rim protection.
Yves Missi (draft). Yves Missi is an impressive big man prospect, already in elite company with his production as a shot-blocker and rebounder as a freshman. His motor and size make him a nice pick-and-roll target and a tenacious rebounder.
Aaron Bradshaw (draft). The Kentucky freshman center is still getting back into the swing of things after returning from a foot injury. We still need to see more from Bradshaw, particularly as a rebounder and defender. However, he offers shooting upside with his size and athleticism.
Isaiah Jackson (trade). Could the Pacers sell off on Jackson before he’s extension-eligible? They have Myles Turner and Jalen Smith in the fold as well. He’s a bouncy big man with potential as a rim-runner and a shot-blocker, who could showcase his skillset with more opportunities.
Though the Grizzlies may need to find Jaren Jackson Jr.’s long-term frontcourt partner, it doesn’t mean they have to move on from both Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams. Nor does it mean they won’t bounce back from these injuries. The Grizzlies’ front office will have to weigh the risk vs. reward of bringing both back next season or utilizing one of them in a move to upgrade somewhere this summer.
Nonetheless, the Grizzlies could find themselves searching for a frontcourt partner for Jaren Jackson Jr. long-term. How they go about it should be interesting, especially given the formula for successes they found with big men of Adams and Clarke’s skillsets.
The Grizzlies could make a small buy trade for a young big man that could benefit and thrive with ample opportunity. They could buy a bit high on a starting center from a rebuilding, or asset-depleted, team. Or, with a pick trending towards the teen’s (no, I don’t see them in the top-10 this season), they could identify a big man through the draft.
And by the way, don’t knock that method. The past few years, we’ve seen plenty of young centers make immediate impacts towards winning in the late lottery or outside it — Alperen Sengun, Walker Kessler, Dereck Lively II, Robert Williams, or Jarrett Allen.
Moves aside, it could cement how they want to deploy Jaren Jackson Jr. going forward as a potential full-time 5 — though they would’ve probably done so, if that was the desired path.
The Grizzlies will have roster decisions to make in 2024 — particularly due to how close they are to the second-apron — and finding a potential long-term frontcourt partner for Jaren Jackson Jr. should be near the top.
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