The Grizzlies are in a very exciting spot to start their rebuild, but there will be plenty of competition for minutes at both forward spots. As exciting as this Grizzlies offseason has been, it's starting to feel like GG Jackson II is flying under the radar a bit. After a very strong end to last season, GG Jackson II has a golden opportunity to establish himself as a key Memphis piece for the future.
The starting lineup for this upcoming season should mostly be set; however, there will likely be plenty of competition for minutes throughout the season. The Grizzlies just reached a buyout agreement with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope not that long after LeBron James signed with the 76ers. They also traded Santi Aldama to Dallas this summer after adding multiple new frontcourt pieces to the roster.
Jerami Grant also arrived in Memphis as a part of the Ja Morant trade and could potentially start at the small forward spot early in the season. But one thing we've observed from recent seasons in Memphis is that there is still always early competition for playing time.
Marcus Smart started early in the 2024/25 season but was ultimately replaced by Jaylen Wells. This past season, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope began the season as a starter before he was eventually benched in favor of Cedric Coward early on.
If recent history is something to go by, one of the young players on the roster could benefit from a similar scenario. Assuming that the first starting five of the year is Ty Jerome, Cedric Coward, Jerami Grant, Cam Boozer, and Zach Edey, the small forward spot could be worth watching early on.
Players such as Jaylen Wells and Karim Lopez certainly shouldn't be forgotten about, but could GG Jackson II factor in at the 3? Or will he continue to build on the success he had at the power forward spot late last season? Regardless, GG Jackson II has a chance to establish a defined role and be a crucial piece not just this year but for the future.
GG Jackson II's ceiling in Memphis comes down to his defense
It remains to be seen how the rotation shakes out throughout the year, but I think it's premature to write off GG Jackson II for a few reasons.
GG Jackson II, despite entering his fourth season, is still just 21 years old and has some of the highest upside on the entire team. Like any young player, he has flaws, but the upside just can't be ignored especially early in a rebuild. Plus, in comparison to some of the other young forwards on the roster, Jackson II's finishing ability is an extremely important asset, especially in a halfcourt offense.
It's no secret that he has significantly improved his offensive scoring process and that he can score in double figures on any given night. But the truth is, GG Jackson II's defense will determine how much he will be able to see the floor. There was notable improvement, but the next step is to make him even stronger on that end of the floor.
Figuring out the best role for GG Jackson II is a bit of a challenge, but if he can make a significant defensive leap in a contract year, he should be able to stay in Memphis past this season. This is the first year of the rebuild, and GG Jackson II will have every opportunity to show he can become one of the game's best complete young forwards.
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