The Grizzlies had a winning record in the month of January last season. This season has been the polar opposite, as they have gone just 3-9 since the start of the New Year. Many factors are to blame, but the offensive slumps of sophomore Jaylen Wells and longtime veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have been a defining factor for the Grizzlies' struggles.
While both players have shown some flashes of good offensive basketball, they have been inconsistent offensively throughout the season and have struggled mightily this month. Despite rookie Cedric Coward answering the call and third-year forward GG Jackson II making a strong case for more minutes, the Grizzlies winning more games hinges on Wells and Caldwell-Pope stepping up.
It has been an uneven year for sophomore Jaylen Wells
Jaylen Wells recently earned a second straight trip to the Rising Stars Challenge. While Wells continues to be one of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA, his offense has been inconsistent this season. Wells is currently averaging 11.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on the season. While his scoring average has increased from last year, he has been much less efficient as a shooter.
In January, Wells is averaging just 9.8 points after averaging 14.3 points per game last month. Wells is also shooting just 32.5% from the field and 23.5% from behind the arc. Per NBA.com, Wells also possesses a 42.7 TS%, which is the lowest of any player in the current rotation. It will be essential for Wells to find consistency if the Grizzlies want to regain ground.
KCP is also struggling at an inopportune time
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has a track record of championship experience and being a reliable 3-and-D veteran throughout his career. Caldwell-Pope was a key piece of the Desmond Bane trade over the summer. Currently, Caldwell-Pope is the third-highest earner for the Grizzlies this season, behind Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. As of late, Caldwell-Pope has continued to struggle mightily and has not given the Grizzlies the initial quality bench minutes he was giving them at first.
For this month, Caldwell-Pope is averaging just 7.8 minutes per game. However, the bigger concern is that he has also been inefficient. He is shooting just 39.3% from the field and making just 26.1% of his threes, his worst mark of any month this season. Caldwell-Pope also has a 49.9 TS%, which is one of the worst in the rotation. Simply put, he has to make more shots for a shorthanded Grizzlies team.
While both players have suffered from the lack of available guards, the shot selection could be better from both. In order to stop the drop in the standings, it will be essential for both players to make more shots. If the Grizzlies can get Wells and Caldwell-Pope back to their best, the team can start stacking wins, especially as guards such as Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome return.