One of the recent conversations surrounding the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade was how the new draft lottery would impact the Grizzlies' pick haul. In the process, Taylor Hendricks continues to fly under the radar as the Grizzlies head into a franchise-defining offseason. Even though it remains early to fully judge the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, Hendricks could end up being a huge win for the Grizzlies.
Selected 9th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Jazz, it is clear that the Grizzlies still see plenty of upside in Hendricks to tap into. It hasn't been an easy path for Hendricks due to injuries and spending time early on developing in the G-League. Even though it was difficult to find a role for Hendricks in Utah, the Grizzlies could end up being the biggest beneficiaries.
Hendricks showed promise after being traded to the Grizzlies
As a part of the Grizzlies' efforts to improve their draft positioning, Taylor Hendricks got plenty of opportunities and did well with them. Hendricks saw his minutes increase by almost 10 minutes per game and had arguably the most productive stint of his NBA career so far. He showed significant defensive upside and an offensive game that can still continue to get better over time.
In 26 games (11 starts), Hendricks averaged 10.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.2 stocks (steals and blocks) in 24.9 minutes per game. Even though Hendricks was a little streaky from three, he still made 34.2% of his attempts and made 58% of his twos. Hendricks will have to grow as a free throw shooter, but it's not crazy to think his efficiency will improve as he grows in confidence.
Arguably the most intriguing game Hendricks played so far in a Grizzlies jersey was the March 18 victory at home against the Denver Nuggets, in which he played a big role in Nikola Jokic having ten turnovers. Despite shooting 6/18 from the field and going just 1/10 from three, Hendricks recorded 6 steals and 3 blocks while handling the Jokic assignment extremely well.
An important thing for the Grizzlies will be finding more players that can impact games without scoring. Even though Hendricks still has some room for offensive growth, his defensive abilities should make him worthy of a rotation spot next season. It wouldn't be surprising if Hendricks ends up becoming one of the best defenders even on a roster consisting of Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells.
The Grizzlies still need to make many difficult decisions this offseason, but Taylor Hendricks has all the makings of a reliable piece in Memphis.
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