Wild new plan to address Grizzlies center position proposed by beat reporter

With their decision to trade Steven Adams to the Houston Rockets ahead of this year's deadline, the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves with a noteworthy vacancy at their center position that, to many, is in dire need of filling.

In the weeks since the February 8 cut-off, GM Zach Kleiman has addressed the state of their pivot position and has gone as far as to suggest that the team's front office will look to the draft, free agency, and trade market to try and find a possible successor at the five spot.

However, Locked on Grizzlies host Damichael Cole believes that the solution to their rotational conundrum may already be in place, as he noted in a recent episode that sliding star big Jaren Jackson Jr. down one peg has already proven to be quite effective this season.

Jaren Jackson Jr. tabbed as possible solution to center spot for Grizzlies

"If you've been watching Jaren as of late a lot of center have struggled against him [when playing the five]... Go look at the numbers, look at the eye test, look at the matchups. Jaren is winning those matchups against centers and centers aren't dominating him on the other end either."

Damichael Cole

As has been noted on several occasions throughout the season, Jackson has continuously expanded upon his overall offensive game, with coach Taylor Jenkins noting earlier in the year that his development on the more glamorous end is creating "mismatches" against opposing defenses.

Of course, Cole would go on to say that while there have been overall positives to the 24-year-old manning the middle this season, one glaring weakness for the Grizzlies in such sets has been their efforts on the glass.

In his eyes, rather than putting him back at the four and finding a more traditional five, the beat reporter suggests that Memphis may want to try and invest in a rebound-oriented power forward or try to find a backup center that possesses these intangibles.

"I do think the Grizzlies will get another center. Maybe it's not a starter, maybe it's a Andre Drummond or someone who can come in and play 18 minutes off the bench [and] rebound the heck out of the ball and the Grizzlies rebound numbers will still be good... But, lets say the Grizzlies go out and get a four who's a terrific rebounder... I'm thinking of guys like Jarred Vanderbilt, not him particularly but guys of that mold. Guys who can come in, [6-foot-7, 6-foot-8], play power forward, crash the glass, go get you some rebounds... Go get one of those kind of guys. Put them alongside of Jaren Jackson Jr. in the starting lineup"

Damichael Cole

Despite the struggles Jackson had playing the pivot during last summer's FIBA World Cup, Cole has been impressed by the way he's carried himself in such a role throughout the 2023-24 campaign with the Grizzlies and seems convinced that he can serve as the club's primary five moving forward.

Through 54 games played this season, the big man is posting tremendous all-around averages of 22.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.5 blocks.