Players such as Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and third overall pick Cam Boozer are a pretty good starting point for the rebuild. The Grizzlies are very early into the post-Ja Morant era, but they must answer a crucial roster question after trading him. What is their long-term future at the point guard position after trading Ja Morant?
If the Grizzlies can have better injury luck this season, it seems likely that they will improve from their 25-win total last season. With one of the most promising young frontcourts and a bunch of willing defenders on the roster, it's easy to envision why the Grizzlies can potentially be a surprise team this upcoming season.
However, despite this being more of a long-term concern rather than for this season, the Grizzlies must soon figure out their future at the point guard position. When looking at the bigger picture of the rebuild, the hope is that at least one of the guards on the roster is either the long-term successor to Ja Morant or will still be a key piece to winning as the rebuild progresses.
The Grizzlies opted against picking a guard this summer
After selecting Cam Boozer, the Grizzlies opted against selecting a point guard in the first round, instead selecting Karim Lopez after multiple trades back from #16 to #21. It remains to be seen how that decision plays out, but the Grizzlies likely felt that one of the guards taken in that range wouldn't have significantly moved the needle at the position.
With AJ Johnson and D'Angelo Russell as potential options to be waived, the Grizzlies will likely be giving most of the point guard duties to Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. They also have Cam Spencer and Walter Clayton Jr., and current two-way Javon Small is in the mix too. While an intriguing group, there are some valid questions about who will stick around in Memphis long-term.
The Grizzlies guards will have every chance to prove themselves
It is no secret how well Ty Jerome ran the offense last season in the 15 games he played last season. However, Jerome has struggled with injuries throughout his career, and he has a player option for the 2027 offseason that he will likely not pick up if he has another good season.
It can also be argued that he is best served as a 6th man and less of a pure point guard for a playoff or championship-level team. Also, a strong argument can be made that Scotty Pippen Jr. is the most underrated player on the roster and that he should remain in Memphis past his contract. However, it's unclear if he can evolve into a regular 82-game starter or if he's best suited in a bench role.
Cam Spencer has also emerged as one of the team's best shooters and has made an enormous leap as a playmaker. Similar to Ty Jerome, it will be interesting to see if Spencer can be a long-term PG or if he is best at the shooting guard position. Walter Clayton Jr. and Javon Small, who currently has a two-way contract, will likely be competing for their Memphis futures.
The Grizzlies have guards that can play well on any given night, but they soon have to figure out who fits in the long-term picture and who doesn't. Trading Ja Morant this summer was a logical decision, but it will be interesting to see how soon the Grizzlies figure out their future at point guard.
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