Memphis Grizzlies will have a tough time replacing De’Anthony Melton in 2022-23
In his three-year tenure as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, De’Anthony Melton became an undeniable fan favorite.
His electric style of play off the bench earned him the nickname “Mr. Do Something,” and for good reason. He led the team in steals, averaging 1.4 per game, which was also tied for ninth most in the NBA.
Melton shot a solid 37.4% from beyond the arc, good enough for the fourth-best three-point percentage on the roster. His athleticism and nose for the ball made him a solid rebounder at the guard position as well, as he averaged 4.5 a night, despite standing just 6’2.” The energy that he brought on the court every time he touched it, mixed with his all-around game, gave a spark that played a huge part in the Memphis Grizzlies winning 56 games last season.
At 23 years of age, with two years remaining on his contract, some thought Melton would remain in Memphis for years to come. The front office had other plans though, as on draft night he was shipped to Philadelphia for Danny Green and the No. 23 pick, which the Grizzlies used to select David Roddy out of Colorado State.
Although he saw his minutes slightly drop in the playoffs, his 22.7 minutes a game in the regular season tallied in at sixth-most among the team, trailing only the regular starting five of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Steven Adams. His production was undeniable, and any advanced stat one would prefer does nothing but support that.
The question is: Who will step up to fill the massive void left by De’Anthony Melton during the upcoming 2022-23 season?
Second Year Ziaire
Desmond Bane’s breakout second season has probably created some unfair expectations for Ziaire Williams in his second season as a pro. It is not often that a sophomore increases his scoring average by nine points a game while staying incredibly efficient from the field and from three. With De’Anthony Melton’s departure, however, there is a real chance for Williams to have the opportunity to make an impactful leap in every facet of his game.
At 20 years of age in his rookie season, Ziaire was not asked to do much offensively besides run the floor hard, catch lobs, and knock down threes when open. Throughout his first 21 games in the league, Williams struggled hitting shots from deep, averaging 3.6 3PT FG attempts per night, while hitting just 24.6 percent of them.
He sprained his ankle in a game against the Heat in early December, causing him to miss almost a month of basketball. He came back appearing to have a little bit more confidence in his shooting abilities, but still only shot 31.3% on 4.0 attempts in his 21 appearances prior to the All-Star break. It was after the break in which Williams really started to find more success from beyond the arc, as he shot 36.2 percent on 4.3 attempts in the final 21 games of the season. This steady increase in production shooting the ball in his first year is extremely promising.
The potential for improvements next season doesn’t stop at shooting threes, either. Coming out of Stanford, Ziaire Williams was known as a guy that had the potential to create his shot on the ball, especially at the midrange level. He showed small signs of it this past season but really got a chance to show it off in summer league.
He was asked to be the ball handler in the offense for the majority of the time that he was on the court, similar to what Desmond Bane did last year, and seemed more and more comfortable doing so as each game passed. Not only did he show that his shot creation bag had grown, but he also made some remarkable passes with the ball in his hands.
Being as athletic as Williams is, while standing 6’9,” also allows him to potentially become an intriguing wing defender that can guard multiple positions. There were even times in the second round of the playoffs against the Warriors where he was tasked with guarding Stephen Curry, and honestly, he held his own.
The departure of De’Anthony Melton will allow Ziaire to play more of the sixth man role for the Grizzlies when the team gets fully healthy. The likelihood of increased three-point numbers mixed with the potential jump in shot creation and defensive abilities makes Ziaire Williams a prime candidate to step up and fill the void.
John Konchar Stays Jitty
No more De’Anthony Melton means that there will definitely be meaningful rotation minutes up for grabs heading into training camp. John Konchar has a massive opportunity to secure those meaningful minutes and to really produce in them.
The Memphis Grizzlies front office showed their belief in Konchar’s abilities by giving him a three-year, $19 million dollar contract extension this offseason, which keeps him in Memphis for the next five years. This proves that they think that he can be a valuable part of the winning culture that they are creating long-term.
There are shades of Mr. Do Something all throughout John Konchar’s game. His averages per 100 possessions last season show this, as he averaged 12.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on 51% shooting from the field and 41% from three, as well as 1.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks. He played 24 or more minutes in only 13 games last season, but he was a positive in plus/minus for 10 of those games. The Grizzlies’ record in those games was 10-3, the clearest indicator of the impact he has on the team.
Much like Melton, Konchar brings extremely solid on-ball defense, while also having the ability to produce deflections and disrupt passing lanes. He possesses sneaky athleticism and a nose for the ball that allows him to be an excellent rebounder. In a win on January 13 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Konchar put up a stat line of 15 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 3 of 4 from the three-point line. Those are simply eye-popping rebounding numbers for an unimposing 6’5″ guard to put up.
Although he only attempted 1.8 3PT FG per game, the fact that he made them at a 41% clip while having such good form is nothing to look over. In the 19 games that John Konchar shot at least three attempts from beyond the arc, he shot a total of 30 for 66. Let’s be real, he probably will not shoot 45% percent from three next year if he increases his volume, but this shows that he is very capable of being a real threat from downtown. If defenders have to stay attached to him on the wing, it will create more opportunities for open back door cuts and will increase his chances to drive and kick, both in which he thrives doing.
John Konchar has a real chance to prove that he can be an extremely valuable role player for this Grizzlies team that is trying to stay at the top of the Western Conference. His ability to be an efficient shooter and a stellar rebounder at the guard position mixed with his ability to gain extra possessions on defense will allow him to fill the rest of the void left by De’Anthony Melton’s exit.