The Memphis Grizzlies recently announced their preseason schedule, with the first game scheduled for October 6th against the Detroit Pistons. With that being a little over two months away, a lot can happen. However, it seems that the Grizzlies aren’t expected to make any more big moves for the remainder of the offseason.
Now that the roster is essentially set, and more importantly, different from last season, it's necessary to examine the areas this team could improve on from last year’s up-and-down season. Mapping out a “successful” Grizzlies season is hard because the definition of “successful” is different for everyone. However, if the Grizzlies can check these four boxes, their likelihood of being in the upper echelon of the Western Conference grows exponentially.
1. Overall Health & Ja Morant plays 70 games
The Grizzlies' poor injury history has been a consistent topic of discussion around the franchise for the entire 'GrizzNxtGen' era. This trend is already affecting the start of the upcoming season, with Grizzlies' bigs Zach Edey and Jaren Jackson Jr. expected to miss time at the beginning of the season. According to Rotowire.com, the Grizzlies were the 12th most injured team last year. A recipe for disaster for any team looking to be a contender.
Especially when their star player, in Memphis’ case, Ja Morant, only played 50 games last year. Morant’s injury history is extensive and is directly correlated to overall team success. Last year, Memphis was 30-20 with Morant in the lineup and 18-14 without him. All-time, the Grizzlies are 76-90 without Morant in the lineup, and 72% of those games have occurred in the last three seasons.
Morant has never played 70 games in a season. If he’s able to break this trend, return to All-NBA caliber play, and the team can stay afloat until the injuries of Edey and Jackson Jr. subside, the Grizzlies are destined for a good season.
2. The wings have to step up
The big storyline for the Grizzlies this offseason was the trade of Desmond Bane. Bane was a part of the Grizzlies' core for the past five seasons and was a consistent contributor on both ends of the floor. Bane was dealt for cap flexibility and to move the team in the direction where Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. were the sole focal points of the team.
The trade also allows the wings on the roster to step into bigger roles. Bane was a consistent 20-point average scorer. So, it's unrealistic to expect a single person to match his production. However, the combination of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cedric Coward, GG Jackson II, and Jaylen Wells has to maximize their time on both ends of the floor. It’s up in the air how the wing rotation will turn out, but all of these players have to raise their game to cement themselves in their roles to support Morant and Jackson Jr.
3. Tuomas Iisalo must right the wrongs of the old regime
Shortly after the end of last season, Memphis named Tuomas Iisalo its new head coach after holding the interim position from the end of March until the end of the season. General manager Zach Kleiman confirmed the team didn't interview any other candidates on draft night. This showed the front offices’ confidence in Iisalo, and they’ve taken the rest of the offseason to round out his new staff.
Iisalo has to pay back this confidence with results on the floor. Players and fans alike grew tired of previous coach Taylor Jenkins’ questionable substitution rotations, bad defensive philosophies, poor late-game management, and new-look offense that took the ball out of Morant’s hands and had bigs such as Zach Edey shooting threes.
Iisalo and his staff have to figure out a way to maximize this roster on both ends of the floor. The Grizzlies lacked consistency last year, and that was partially the fault of Jenkins’ coaching woes. Iisalo must get this team on the right track early with his new philosophy and keep that trend for the entire season.
4. Rediscover an identity
During his exit interview, general manager Zach Kleiman said the “type of players that resonate with this fanbase and are impactful to the city are the gritty guys that have that dog to their game”. Arguably, for the past two seasons, Memphis has lacked an identity. This upcoming season, Memphis needs some of that “dog” and “grit” mentality Kleiman spoke of.
During the Grit 'N Grind days, that was the calling card with the core four of Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol. After that era, the Grizzlies were a young and hungry team that loved being the underdog and hunting every team in the West. Now, this team is older and more experienced. Into this new era under Iisalo, they need to rediscover their identity that resonates with their play on the floor and with the fanbase. Whatever they decide their new identity is, there needs to be a noticeable cultural difference on the floor and every time a fan steps into the FedExForum.