While the talk following the NBA Draft and Summer League has been about the new rookies entering the league, the sophomores are looking to take a leap into expanded roles. This applies to the Grizzlies as Jaylen Wells is expected to take an elevated role after a surprising All-Rookie first team last season.
Jeremy Woo of ESPN included the 39th overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft in his rankings of the top 10 most interesting sophomores heading into the 2025-26 season. Wells was a starter for 74 of his 79 games played and finished in the top five in points per game for the rookies.
With Desmond Bane not returning to the lineup next season, Jaylen Wells is expected to be a part of the task force to replace his production. His elevation or non-elevation can be the difference between the Grizzlies being a playoff team or a lottery team.
Jaylen Wells is expected to be the starting shooting guard
Wells spent most of his time starting at small forward last season after a few games in place of an injured Desmond Bane at shooting guard earlier in the season. With the team's acquisition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Wells will likely begin next season starting next to him at the wing positions, which would probably keep him at the three due to their height difference.
They have similar play styles as three-and-D wings, so eventually the team will look strongly at the possibility of slotting Wells with Ja Morant in the backcourt, giving either 2025 first-round pick Cedric Coward, or former All-Rookie second team and third-year forward GG Jackson the opportunity to fill in at the three. While Wells was the team's best perimeter defender last season and shot 35% from three, the potential of him displaying more is what the Grizzlies are hoping for.
Woo also made the case that Wells could improve on the ball for the Grizzlies next season, and he will likely have the opportunity, as shown a little bit during summer league play. Unfortunately, Wells' rookie season was cut short, just shy of gaining valuable playoff experience, but he rebounded from the broken wrist injury to return to the court in two months.
The ESPN rankings had Wells ranked eighth in the most interesting sophomores heading into the next NBA season. That might seem a little low for a player who's expected to take a leap for a team expecting to vie for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, but it is also a compliment that he was the only second-round draft pick on the top 10 list.