The Memphis Grizzlies have arguably the best young core in the NBA. Ja Morant is an unquestioned superstar at 23 years old, Jaren Jackson Jr. just won Defensive Player of the Year as a 23-year-old, and Desmond Bane just got a five-year $207 million extension at 25. Memphis has been in the playoffs for three straight years, and they are looking to make a deep playoff run in 2024.
The Grizzlies still have work to do this offseason as their roster sits at 17 players. Theymust get down to 15 before the start of the regular season, which could mean a trade is on the horizon. Memphis added Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose this summer. They believe they can compete for a championship when healthy, but watching their young talent develop could be their key to success this season.
The Grizzlies are developing their three stars, but their roster is full of young talent behind them. Who should Memphis be looking to improve to take that next step as a team? Continuing their development is key, but it is time to move on from some. Here is a look at each young talent on their roster.
5 Players the Memphis Grizzlies should develop, 3 they shouldn’t
Develop: Xavier Tillman
The Grizzlies drafted Tillman in the second round in 2020 after three years at Michigan State. He has played off the bench for his first three years, and the 24-year-old is committed to improving his game. He set new career highs in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game last season, and Tillman is focused on adding a jumper.
At 6’8, he is a bit undersized, but that did not stop him from finishing in the top 50 in win shares per 48 minutes last season and tied for 99th in value over replacement player (VORP). The advanced metrics love Tillman’s game, and the best should still be yet to come.
The Memphis Grizzlies found a quality rotation player in the second round that they should continue to develop.
Don’t Develop: Isaiah Todd
Todd was the first pick in the second round in 2021 after one year with the G League Ignite. The 6’10 forward showed flashes, but he was a development project. Todd has played a total of 135 NBA minutes in his first two seasons, and he was traded twice this offseason to wind up in Memphis.
Todd has mostly played in the G League to this point, and he has failed to dominate. Over 72 regular season games, the 6’10 forward averaged 9.7 points and 4.0 rebounds on 39.0 percent shooting from the field and 30.9 percent on his threes.
The Memphis Grizzlies traded for Isaiah Todd. The 21-year-old still has potential, but there has not been a ton to like early in his career. They may try to iron out his jumper and help him improve on the defensive end, but he is years away from being a nightly contributor in the NBA.
Isaiah Todd is set to make $1.8 million this season and has a team option for next season at just under $2 million. It is an affordable contract, but the Grizzlies should have no issues moving on because the 6’10 forward has failed to prove himself in his first two NBA seasons.
Develop: David Roddy
The Grizzlies acquired the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft from Philadelphia for De’Anthony Melton. It was a bold move, and Memphis selected David Roddy after three years at Colorado State. The 22-year-old was in the rotation on opening night, and he showed plenty of flashes on his way to producing 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18.0 minutes each night over 70 games.
The advanced metrics were not favorable, but that frequently happens to rookies. Roddy took part in summer league where he averaged 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. The 6’6 forward is in contention to be the Grizzlies starting small forward this season.
Even cracking the rotation as a 21-year-old rookie should be considered a positive, and Roddy played in all six playoff games for the Grizzlies last season. The stats do not jump off the screen, but Memphis went 44-26 when he played, which is a 51-win pace for the entire season.
Is he ready for a massive role? The 6’6 forward is working hard on his game this summer and should continue to improve. Finding a rotation player in the late first round is a victory, and the Memphis Grizzlies should continue to develop David Roddy to see what he can become.
Don’t Develop: Josh Christopher
Christopher was the 24th overall pick in the 2021 draft after one season at Arizona State. The 6’5 guard landed on the rebuilding Rockets, who had plenty of time available to develop him. Christopher averaged 18.0 minutes per game as a rookie and showed some flashes, but his minutes and production dropped off in year two.
The Rockets sent the 21-year-old to Memphis as part of the Dillion Brooks five-team sign-and-trade. Memphis was done with Brooks, but willingly took back Josh Christopher over a second-round draft pick.
The 6’5 guard has been fantastic whenever he played in the G League. Over the last two seasons, he averaged 24.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 block in 34.0 minutes per game over eight contests. That is a positive sign, and the Grizzlies need a backup point guard with Ja Morant suspended to start the season, and Marcus Smart replacing Tyus Jones.
The Memphis Grizzlies should not commit to developing Josh Christopher because it will take playing time away from the team’s best players and his poor shooting makes him a difficult fit next to Morant. Expect them to see what they have, especially during Ja’s suspension, but they should look to move on quickly if Christopher has not taken a significant step forward.
Develop: Kenneth Lofton Jr.
Lofton Jr. went undrafted in 2022 in part because he does not have traditional size. He is 6’7 and 275 pounds, which makes him shorter than most centers but bigger than the wings of his height. Lofton Jr. is an undersized center with an intriguing skill set.
The 20-year-old struggled to get minutes as a rookie, but he averaged 20.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals in 28.5 minutes per game in the G League last season. He cannot space the floor, but Lofton Jr. showed improvements during summer league as he made 11 of 25 3-point attempts. The 6’7 big man was outstanding in Las Vegas, and that should give fans hope for the coming season.
Lofton Jr. helped Team USA win the under-19 World Cup in 2021, and he continues to prove his doubters wrong. Fans could argue that the Memphis Grizzlies should move on because they have a big man logjam, but there is something special about Lofton Jr. He is under contract for three more years, and the Grizzlies should continue to develop him.
Memphis should have an open battle at the start of training camp to be the backup center behind Steven Adams. Can Lofton Jr. beat out Xavier Tillman and Santi Aldama for minutes? It is unlikely, but he should dominate in the G League and will be ready whenever he is needed.
Develop: Jake LaRavia
LaRavia was the 19th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but the 6’8 forward struggled to get minutes as a rookie. He averaged 18.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals in 29.2 minutes per game in the G League, including shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 36.4 percent on his threes.
LaRavia produced similar numbers in summer league and hopes to take a significant step forward in year two.
The 21-year-old will be in the mix to start at the three during training camp. Can he seize that opportunity? LaRavia is the best shooter in their young core, and he has the size to defend multiple positions. He must be more physical to defend inside, and he struggles against quicker guards, but there is room to improve.
It is too soon to give up on Jake LaRavia. He struggled as a rookie, but plenty of players do. There must be improvement in year two or the 21-year-old could quickly slip to the other side of this ledger. Fans saw positives and things to work on in summer league. Expect him to be in the gym preparing as he looks to take advance of the massive opportunity in front of him during training camp.
Don’t Develop: Ziaire Williams
Williams is entering a make-or-break season with the Grizzlies. The tenth overall pick in 2021 was part of the rotation as a rookie and showed plenty of potential. His production did not leap off the screen, but the 6’8 forward helped them make the playoffs and advance to the second round.
Injuries limited him in year two, and his playing time and production were inconsistent when healthy. During his best 25-game stretch, Williams averaged 6.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game. Watching a young player’s minutes and production decrease is always a bit concerning, and Williams has to prove he belongs next season.
The Grizzlies still have two seasons of team control before he becomes a restricted free agent in 2025. There is no need to complete cut bait, but Memphis should not be looking at Williams as a core piece. He was drafted as a project, but his offensive game is years away from being impactful in the NBA.
The Grizzlies will have an open competition to start at the three in training camp. Dillon Brooks is in Houston, and there is no clear favorite to win the job. Ziaire Williams has the opportunity to seize that role, but if he does not, Memphis should not look at him as a key piece of their future.
Develop: Santi Aldama
Aldama was the final pick of the first round in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he played the majority of his minutes in the G League as a rookie. The 22-year-old took a significant step forward in year two, including being the starter to open the season with Jaren Jackson Jr. on the shelf.
The 6’11 big man looks ready to be a rotation piece for the next decade-plus. He improved his shooting and defense in year two, and the 22-year-old should continue getting better. Aldama will not become a star, but he could blossom into a starter and key contributor in his prime.
Expect Santi Aldama to continue working on his jumper, playmaking, and defense this summer. Can he take another significant step forward in year three? The franchise is hopeful, and fans should be excited. Last year’s jump could be just the beginning for the 22-year-old big man.
The Memphis Grizzlies have one of the best young cores in the NBA, and they must focus on developing the right players to maximize their potential. They have already turned Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane into stars. What can their development staff do next? Stay tuned to find out.
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