The starting small forward position was a position that was once solidified for the Grizzlies in the "Grz Nxt Gen" era by Dillon Brooks. From the time he was drafted in 2017 until he and the team decided to part ways in free agency last summer, Dillon Brooks started 245 of the 272 games he played with the Grizzlies as a small forward (he started 73 games at shooting guard in the 2019-20 season).
The Grizzlies' draft selection of Ziaire Williams with the 10th overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft signaled a potential shift in the future of that position as Desmond Bane surpassed Brooks as the third piece of the big three with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. However, Ziaire Williams proved to not be ready for that spotlight after a promising rookie season in which he started 31 of 62 games at small forward due to a Dillon Brooks injury.
Marcus Smart was traded to the Grizzlies last summer with plans to start him at the small forward position, which he has been the starter for 25 of the 27 games he's played with the Grizzlies. However, the question of his fit and size with Ja Morant and Desmond Bane has always been prevalent and has been expedited with the rise of Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson, and Jaylen Wells.
With the plethora of options at the Grizzlies' disposal for their starting small forward position, let's review what each candidate brings.
Projected Starter: Marcus Smart
The Grizzlies don't have much data on the 6'3" Marcus Smart fit due to injuries to him, Bane, and Morant leading to them only playing 11 games in the starting lineup together. The Grizzlies are 5-6 in those games but the undersized nature of that lineup hasn't proven to hurt the team quite yet. An extended sample size of that lineup is expected unless this next player continues to refuse to relinquish his current position.
The Rookie: Jaylen Wells
The number one rookie on last week's rookie ladder has started the Grizzlies' last nine games with his first at small forward coming in their last game against the Denver Nuggets. After starting at shooting guard in his first eight starts, the 6'8" Wells remained in the starting lineup at shooting guard when Marcus Smart returned against the Lakers last Wednesday and when Desmond Bane returned against the Warriors last Friday.
Desmond Bane returned to the starting lineup against the Nuggets on Sunday and Jaylen Wells remained by sliding over to small forward while Marcus Smart missed the game due to illness. He scored 15 points on 6-15 shooting and was assigned to guard Jamal Murray, helping to hold him to 13 points on 6-15 shooting. Marcus Smart is questionable to return for tonight's game against the Denver Nuggets again, so the choice of starter will be telling.
The Surprise: Santi Aldama
The 6'11" Santi Aldama has started nine games at small forward for the Grizzlies this season to provide the team with the ultimate "bigs" lineup. The team's rebounding got better after a slow start to the season after his insertion in the starting lineup, and the spacing he provides as an additional shooter helped although he has struggled with his three-point shot this season (24%).
Last night I asked Taylor Jenkins about his satisfaction with Santi Aldama starting at small forward the past 5 games.
— Parish Sharkey (@DaOne_PShark) November 9, 2024
•offensive playmaking and shooting
•added size on defense #GrindCity pic.twitter.com/kuYk6FtIc2
After starting eight games in a row at small forward, Jaylen Wells got the nod over Santi Aldama when Desmond Bane returned to the lineup. Due to Taylor Jenkins' decision to make his starting lineups based on matchups, don't be surprised to see Santi enter the starting lineup again at the small forward spot.
The Returning Promising Wings: Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson
The 6'4" Vince Williams Jr. and 6'9' GG Jackson are former second-round picks who were the bright spots for the team in a down year last season. Both players were talked about ad nauseum as starting small forward options all summer but late offseason injuries derailed both of their starts to the season.
Vince Williams Jr. returned for his first game last Friday against the Golden Warriors and is gradually getting back into the groove of things off the bench for now. He provided a stat line of nine points, five rebounds, 4 assists, and two blocks in 24 minutes against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday to make his imprint back into the lineup.
Although Vince Williams Jr. is only 6'4", his 6'11" wingspan makes up for his height and his defense is close to the level of Marcus Smart's to work well with the Morant and Bane lineup. GG Jackson isn't expected to return to the team until next month but the flashes he showed last season and in summer league along with his size and scoring ability bolds well his future fit with Morant and Bane.
The Grizzlies have five players who are more than capable of filling in as the starter for the team at small forward and no matter who ultimately wins the job (if it is up for grabs), expect all five players to contribute to the team in some form as high-level bench contributors.