Grading every Memphis Grizzlies player’s preseason performance

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
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Memphis Grizzlies
Kenneth Lofton Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Kenneth Lofton Jr.: B

24 Minutes,17 Points (75% FG, 50% 3PT, 80% FT), 5 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 1 Steal, 4 Turnovers

Kenny Lofton played very well in the one game he played in, especially on the offensive end. He was scoring at will on established bigs like Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. After game one, he got no more playing time, even in garbage minutes at the end of games. This squanders any hope that some fans had of him gaining a roster spot. I believe that he is not there defensively yet and needs to improve rebounding the basketball. When it comes to the G-League, he might mess around and win MVP.

Kennedy Chandler: B-

12.6 MPG, 4.0 PPG (40% FG, 16.7% 3PT, 60% FT), 2.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.0 TOV

Kennedy Chandler’s play in the limited preseason minutes he received pleasantly surprised me. He was awesome defensively and took care of the basketball very well. His springy athleticism and craftiness made him thrive finishing at the rim. He did not shoot the ball well from outside, but that was almost the only flaw in his game. He will probably spend a little bit of time in the G-League this season, but his play in the preseason showed me he might be NBA-ready sooner than some people might have thought.

Vince Williams Jr.: C

9.1 MPG, 2.0 PPG (40% FG, 40% 3PT), 0.0 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.3 TOV

Vince Williams hardly played but looked decent in the short amount of time he received. He’ll spend most of his time in the G-League this season, but I think he will thrive in Southaven.