Memphis Grizzlies: What Role Will Brandon Clarke Play With the Team This Season?

Second Unit Reps

Clarke will start his season with the Grizzlies’ second unit, and he will likely play the lion’s share of his minutes with that same unit.

Coming off the bench is often instrumental in allowing rookies to acclimate to the pace of NBA games, and it may also allow Clarke to gain some confidence from playing against second-string players, rather than beginning his career matched up against guys like LaMarcus Aldridge or Blake Griffin.

Playing with the second unit will also behoove Clarke because the floor general of that second unit will likely be Tyus Jones, a guy who set the NBA single-season record for highest assist-to-turnover ratio last season.

Clarke has a knack for putting himself at the right place around the rim, and Jones has a knack for getting the ball to his big men in scoring position, which could spell a long and productive partnership between the two.

While Clarke could certainly find himself inserted into the game as the center in a small-ball lineup, he’ll likely start the season as the backup power forward, sharing the frontcourt with Ivan Rabb, Miles Plumlee, or Dwight Howard (free Dwight Howard!). All three potential backup centers play most of their offensive possessions in the low post with their backs to the basket, which would free Clarke up to roam, setting a lot of on-ball screens and rolling to the hoop.

With a 40-inch vertical and hands like Larry Fitzgerald, Clarke could really be difficult to defend in the paint if you space the floor by surrounding him with shooters.

Dillon Brooks, Jae Crowder, and Bruno Caboclo all shoot north of 34 percent from the 3-point line, and all three will likely spend some time on the court with Clarke.

If Clarke makes a name for himself as a rim-runner, wing defenders will either have to collapse on him as he rolls to the paint, giving up open 3-point opportunities, or they’ll have to stay with their guys on the wing, allowing Clarke to have more space to showcase his freakish athleticism close to the basket.

Furthermore, Clarke’s phenomenal shot-blocking ability, rebounding skills, and willingness to pursue the ball in the air will be extremely conducive to a second unit that wants to get out and run.

Clarke averaged 8.6 rebounds per game at Gonzaga and 9.8 per game in summer league play, and he’s a guy who has perfected the art of collecting a defensive rebound, getting the ball to a ball-handler, and quickly running the floor.

If the Grizzlies’ second unit wants to play a lot of fast-break ball, which it should, Clarke poses a significant threat on the boards and in one-on-one fast break matchups.

It’s hard to predict what second unit lineups will take the floor, as the Grizzlies are still shopping Andre Iguodala around to potential suitors. However, a Tyus Jones/Josh Jackson/Jae Crowder/Brandon Clarke/Ivan Rabb lineup is a possible and intriguing option on opening night, albeit one without much 3-point shooting. If Clarke can add a consistent outside shot to his offensive arsenal, that lineup becomes dangerous from top to bottom.

Regardless of which unit Brandon Clarke takes the floor with, he possesses the ability to make the guys around him better. His ball-handling skills are still developing, and he will probably have to match up defensively against a guy who’s physically bigger than he is, but his athleticism, defensive prowess, and rebounding skills can make good things happen at any level. If he’s having an off night offensively, you can still depend on him to block a few shots and snag seven rebounds, which is more than can be said for a lot of guys in the league who need to have the ball in their hands at all times.

For now, Brandon Clarke needs to focus on improving his jump shot and putting on a few pounds of muscle so he won’t get bullied by bigger guys in the post. Come October, however, he has the potential to really be a wild card for the Grizzlies, and you can expect him to be a productive NBA player for the foreseeable future.