Recent roster shake-ups have caused fans to ponder the future of this Grizzlies team. Ja Morant is wearing Memphis blue as he looks at the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, but the rumors about his future are still very much alive.
Since he entered the league, Morant has been the face of Memphis Grizzlies basketball. He is a huge piece of the team’s identity, and despite all the trade rumors, it’s hard to envision this group without Morant leading the charge.
Before the trade deadline, the future of the team looked a lot different. Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and Zach Edey would be the core five. Scotty Pippen Jr., GG Jackson, Ty Jerome, Santi Aldama, Cam Spencer, Vince Williams Jr., Brandon Clarke, and several others would serve as a strong backup unit.
Perhaps a few new faces would join the group, specifically rookies from future NBA draft classes, but there didn’t seem to be a crystal clear indication that a complete rebuild was on the horizon.
What did the trade deadline say about Memphis’ future?
If there’s one thing to take away from this year’s trade deadline, it’s that Memphis is going in a different direction. This is the start of a rebuild centered around young talent. A young team, for the most part, with Morant being the veteran star.
The question going forward, though, is who will become the second superstar? Now that Jaren Jackson Jr.'s days in a Grizzlies uniform have come to an end, someone else will need to step into a similar role. There's a lot of talent on the roster right now and future draft picks that can also make a significant impact, but here are three people who have a chance to take the next step as the team looks to rebuild around its young core.
Cedric Coward
Cedric Coward is the most obvious candidate to become the Grizzlies’ second superstar. Memphis traded up in the draft to select Coward because of the potential they saw in him, and he’s already starting to show why. Even as a rookie, he brings a lot to the team and is a key two-way impact player. Despite not playing a ton of minutes yet with Morant, it is clear that they do have chemistry when they share the floor.
Coward also plays at a faster pace, much like Morant. With Morant sidelined due to injuries, Coward has had the opportunity to play more and establish himself as a true contributor in the rotation. His energy on both offense and defense has been noticeable, and that effort could pay off once he and Morant are able to play with each other more consistently.
Jaylen Wells
Jaylen Wells is another possible second star who complements Morant on the court. Wells is in his second NBA season, following an incredible rookie year. Morant and Wells have had numerous opportunities to play together and developed a strong chemistry as a result. In addition to being a very talented shooter, he is also a strong defender, which helps create offensive opportunities for his teammates.
After the injury that ended his season last year, it took Wells a little bit of time to get back into his groove. That said, he has lately been reminding everyone why he was in the Rookie of the Year conversation as he continues to play extremely valuable minutes for the Grizzlies.
Taylor Hendricks
Despite only being on the team since early February, Taylor Hendricks has shown some promising flashes. While he isn’t consistently putting up massive stat lines, he has delivered a few very strong performances. Against the Golden State Warriors on February 9th, Hendricks recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, showing just what he is capable of doing on both ends of the floor.
One of the biggest unknowns surrounding Hendricks’ potential as a future co-star alongside Ja Morant is how the two of them will play together on the court. Because Morant is currently on the injured list, the pair has yet to share valuable minutes, leading to questions about their chemistry.
When Morant is on the floor, the offense naturally flows through him, and he excels at involving his teammates in a variety of ways. He has a great read of the court and a high basketball IQ, which allows him to find open teammates by collapsing defenses and wearing down opponents with his pace. If Hendricks continues developing his three-point shot and stays aggressive going to the rim, he and Morant could become a dangerous duo.
Who will define Memphis’ next era?
These are just a few players out of many who have the potential to rise up and make a significant impact. That said, not every talented player will develop co-star-level chemistry with Morant, which is why there will be some trial and error. Trying out different rotations when Morant is on the court in practice, but also during regular season games, is how Memphis will be able to discover its next dynamic duo. As the team looks to establish a core that will define this new era, who will be taking the next step in their professional basketball career?