The positive outlook for the Grizzlies following their 2024 preseason performance is exactly what the doctor ordered. With the expected absences of Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson to begin the regular season, the team needed their young guys to step up to prove the team's depth is sufficient and they showed just that.
With opening night coming up, the team seems poised to begin the season ready to return to their 2021-22 team's depth that helped achieve the second seed in the Western Conference and a second-round playoff appearance.
Preseason Winners/Losers
Winner: Jaylen Wells
Jaylen Wells was arguably the Grizzlies' best player off the bench in the preseason. He averaged 14.4 points on 48% shooting from three (12-25) in the team's five outings. Wells will likely have an opportunity to carve out a role as he is the next man up to gain early season minutes with the expected absences of Vince Williams Jr. and Luke Kennard to begin the regular season.
Loser: The team's health
Coming off a season in which the team set the NBA record for most players to play in a season (33), the last thing that needed to happen was early season injuries to the team's depth. The good news is the team's top players are all expected to be available on opening night, and the back half of the bench showcased the ability to produce winning basketball in the Grizzlies' five preseason games.
Winner: Scotty Pippen Jr.
The Grizzlies' Summer League MVP and one of the bright spots of last season's second-half play entered training camp on a two-way contract and earned his way onto the active roster before the Grizzlies' preseason finale. The retirement of Derrick Rose opened the door for Scotty Pippen Jr. to become the backup point guard, and the team feels confident that he can produce in that role this season.
Loser: Ball Security
Coach Taylor Jenkins introduced a new offensive system that has the Grizzlies playing at one of the NBA's fastest paces and the results have been mixed as expected. However, cutting down on the turnovers will have to take precedence early in the season if the Grizzlies want to be effective with that pace. The team finished the preseason with 108 total turnovers in five games (21.6 per game average).
Winner: The team's depth
While the various injuries the team had were downsides, their depth pieces were a positive development. Players like Jake LaRavia, Jaylen Wells, Scotty Pippen Jr., John Konchar, and Jay Huff showed that the team's depth can be a strength this season, as long as the star players remain relatively healthy.