Memphis Grizzlies: Five Big Preseason Questions

What Can the Rookies Bring?

This is a pretty relevant place to start for a team sporting both the draft’s #2 pick, and also the reigning Vegas Summer League MVP.

Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke are both capable of being impact players right from the get. But neither comes without his own set of questions.

For Morant, it’s how quickly he can adjust to the seismic leap in opposition quality he’s about to face. On Murray State, Morant got to mostly massacre mid-majors. While he played well against elite opponents, he’s sure to face far more challenges night in and out. Morant averaged over five TOs/game last year; he could be in for early headaches against NBA-level defense.

Clarke’s predicament is more an issue of fit. While he’s a powder keg of an athlete who can capably guard either forward spot, he’s capped in the Grizzlies’ lineup. Memphis just re-upped Jonas Valanciunas, presumably as their starting center. This means Clarke’s value will lie primarily in small-ball lineups, and his ability to mesh with Jaren Jackson Jr in the pivot.

Both are also serious question marks as shooters. Morant was an average gunner from the NCAA three, so expecting some kind of regression, at least initially, is fair. Clarke meanwhile connected on an inspiring 56% from distance (small sample alert) in Summer League, after going just 4-15 with Gonzaga.

Any progress either can make as a spacing threat will be crucial to Memphis’ development, bringing us to…