4 Grizzlies who could be surprise starters in 2024-2025

Brandon Clarke

To go alongside their already tumultuous previous season, Memphis entered the offseason with major questions of how they would address their frontcourt after trading away starting center Steven Adams and replicate his defensive value.

Luckily for Memphis, drafting center Zach Edey alleviated one major concern for a team lacking a formal center, and the focus shifted to addressing depth in the frontcourt as a whole rather than in one particular area.

Enter Brandon Clarke into the equation, as the big man will be another player coming off an injury that saw him play a mere six games and will be looking to return to form this year.

During the 2022-2023 season, Clarke played an excellent role as a rotational frontcourt player while playing in 56 games and starting in eight.

While not always the flashiest of players, the former 15th overall pick has been able to contribute efficiently with scoring and rebounding while also pulling out a highlight-worthy play on several occasions.

Ideally, the Grizzlies fan favorite will find himself seeing ample action on the hardwood while the coaching staff works out the best way to maximize opportunities with expected starters such as Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey.

Clarke would likely find himself playing in the place of one of the aforementioned players, but it's a reasonable assumption that against the wide array of teams Memphis will face, the 27-year-old could find himself starting in the right scenario.

With a Western Conference that is chock full of elite frontcourt talents, the value of a player such as Clarke who offers both offensive finesse and game-changing defensive efforts cannot be underestimated.

Being able to stay mobile and quick while also providing paint presence can be a major boon for Memphis, who will be on a collision course with key frontcourt players down the line assuming they thrust themselves back into the playoff picture in 2024-25.