The Memphis Grizzlies and the rest of the NBA are firmly entrenched in their post-All-Star break games. The team has had to battle through many injuries, including Ja Morant missing 22 games, Desmond Bane missing 11 games, and the trading of former presumed starter and veteran Marcus Smart.
However, the team is fully healthy now and looking to gain some chemistry with its entire core in place for a playoff run. While the goal is to win a championship, they find themselves back near the top of the Western Conference standings after a year where everything fell apart.
Along with the games Morant and Bane missed, Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson missed a combined 91 games after providing the only bright spots after last season. The Grizzlies have a couple of players who have stepped up in the absence of those players who weren't expected to contribute as much as they have.
1. Jaylen Wells
The second-round rookie wing from Washington State was only expected to contribute in spot duty after being signed to a guaranteed contract after the draft. Wells was expected to be behind the likes of Marcus Smart, Vince Williams, Jr., GG Jackson, Luke Kennard, and even Jake LaRavia in the Grizzlies' wing rotation.
Well, preparation meets opportunity and Wells prepared for a golden opportunity when Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson, and Luke Kennard all suffered training camp injuries. After coming off the bench for the first five games of the season injuries to Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane opened the door to a starting position for him and he never looked back.
Jaylen Wells now finds himself firmly in the Rookie of the Year race as has shown the defensive acumen to lead the pack as the starting forward of the future. He continues to excel at his role as a 3-and-D wing averaging 11.3 points on 37.4% shooting from three and will remain as a key component for this team this season and beyond.
2. Santi Aldama
Aldama's impact is technically not a big surprise, but after not taking a leap last season the former first-round draft pick from Loyola (Maryland) has been the Grizzlies' best bench player this season. With the return of Brandon Clarke and the promise shown by GG Jackson last season, Santi Alama became somewhat of an afterthought.
However, he is having a career year averaging 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds on 48.8% shooting and 38% from three. He was in the Sixth Man of the Year race until an ankle injury caused him to miss six games in a tightly contested race that made it difficult for him to regain ground.
Regardless, the Grizzlies have a player who can play nearly any position on the floor in a contract year and that looks to be a core player they can depend on going forward.