To start, this is not a dig at Taylor Hendricks. I like what he showed after arriving in Memphis as a part of the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade. I still believe there are many positives about his game and that he can be a critical piece for the Grizzlies this season. Summer League is not everything, but his three-point shot has been a struggle and could end up deciding his Memphis future.
It is important to note that Taylor Hendricks is still just 22 years old and that he was the 9th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. It hasn't been an easy road for Hendricks, especially after a serious injury suffered in his second season. While it was difficult to find a long-term role for Hendricks in Utah, what he showed after the trade in Memphis suggests he can be in the Grizzlies' future.
However, his three-point shot could potentially determine if he remains in Memphis past this season or not.
The three-point shot could be a deciding factor for Hendricks
After a strong first game in Utah Summer League, where Hendricks scored 15 points against the Thunder and impacted the box score in other ways, it looked like Hendricks was primed for a dominant summer. Unfortunately, that has not been the case, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and a lot of that has to do with his three-point shot.
For context, Taylor Hendricks shot 34.2% from three after the trade and is a career 35.4% three-point shooter. Hendricks has at least shown in regular season NBA action that he can shoot the three-point shot at a decent level. But this summer, Hendricks has made just 5 of his 32 three-point attempts, which is a shockingly low 15.6%.
While I still put more stock in NBA regular season games, Hendricks' shooting this summer does raise plenty of concern, especially considering he is getting many open looks. Hendricks is making an impact as a defensive playmaker and has been a consistent hustle guy, but the three-point shooting has stopped him from truly dominating in this setting.
It is easy to dismiss the three-point shooting this summer and trust the regular season sample size more. However, Taylor Hendricks is entering his fourth season and will be a free agent in the 2027 offseason. While Hendricks still has plenty of upside, the Grizzlies roster has many promising young forwards, and he will have to stand out this season.
In the short time Taylor Hendricks has played in Memphis, his effort on the defensive end gives reason to believe he can be a key piece long-term. It cannot be discounted how well he played, but his three-point shot will be an extremely interesting trend to monitor.
There are still plenty of reasons to believe in Taylor Hendricks carving out a legitimate role with the Grizzlies. However, his three-point shot could make all the difference for how much he fits in the long-term picture.
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