Memphis Grizzlies: Pros and cons of having Steven Adams instead of JV

The Memphis Grizzlies got as much of a fit as they could ask for on the offensive end in Steven Adams

This slide was not actually planned, I just kept thinking of more pros when it comes to having Steven Adams on this team. Outside of the defensive side of the ball, there are actually a handful of pros.

For starters, Adams will take no time at all getting comfortable with the Grizzlies’ offense. This is the same center that played with Russell Westbrook for years — he knows how to mesh well with a fast, explosive point guard and clear space for his counterpart in the paint. In fact, Adams’ best years came as Russell Westbrook’s sidekick. This fares well for the Memphis Grizzlies, who have the most similar player to Westbrook in NBA history in Ja Morant.

Even more specifically, Adams has a mean floater game. As we know, nobody hit more floaters last season than the Memphis Grizzlies. Do not be surprised when Adams averages a career-high in scoring next season.

This last part is more of a twist on the actual narrative. While Adams will still be a downgrade from Valanciunas on offense, he’ll open the door for more development from Ja Morant and other young Grizzly players.

There isn’t a lot of purpose behind giving a center who is nearing the age of 30 the reigns on a young team’s offense. As great as JV was, it felt like a waste to devote time to his development over other players. That said, this part may be a bit of a stretch. Even so, I think this move will pay off in the end for the Grizzlies.