The Grizzlies are probably in one of the most unique situations in the entire NBA. It's always scary to hear the word "rebuild," but if there's a rebuilding team that should return to playoff contention quickly, it's the Grizzlies. They face a good roster problem that many rebuilding teams don't get to experience right away, and it's the fact that the Grizzlies already have plenty of depth to lean on.
Now, that's not to say that the Grizzlies will immediately be one of the league's best teams. But at a baseline, the Grizzlies have plenty of players that should allow them to be competitive on most nights. More teams will be trying to win this season instead of trying to fight for draft positioning, but before the trade deadline, the Grizzlies were arguably a playoff-caliber team had they been at full strength.
The Grizzlies have one of the most promising rebuilds thanks to depth
Now in all fairness, the Grizzlies aren't the only young rebuilding team that should make a leap this year. Think about teams such as the Jazz and the Wizards, who picked above the Grizzlies. But the Grizzlies have to feel good about where they are when being compared to other teams such as the Nets, Kings, and Pelicans.
The Grizzlies will have to figure out their long-term core and who the star talents are. But if there is one thing that really puts the Grizzlies ahead of other rebuilding teams, it's that they've already had multiple All-Rookie Team pieces the last few years. Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells made the All-Rookie First Team in 2024, and Cedric Coward just made it this past season.
GG Jackson II also made All-Rookie Second Team in the 2023 season despite being selected 45th overall. The good news for the Grizzlies is that all those names are still on the roster and should be able to make an impact. Now, add Cam Boozer, who was selected third overall in this year's class, and the Grizzlies have one of the better young cores of talent in the NBA.
In this past year, Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. have all been traded, and the Grizzlies are starting with a fresh core. Luckily for them, the young talent is surrounded by solid veteran players who can still contribute, such as Isaiah Stewart, Jerami Grant, and Ty Jerome. Their unique blend of young talent and veterans should allow them to build an identity very early.
Compared to teams in their division such as the Pelicans, the Grizzlies have a clear vision of what they want to be long-term. It's simply too early to believe they will be one of the best teams in the NBA right away. But with an intriguing mix of promising young talent and veterans that can still perform at a high level, the Grizzlies could rise quicker compared to other teams so early in a rebuild.
This should be an exciting time for Grizzlies fans, as this is probably the dream situation for a team in their first year of a rebuild.
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