*NEW ACQUISITION \ R ROOKIE (COLLEGE STATS)The sole goal for
this year should be
getting JA MORANT
and JAREN JACKSON on
the court together,
building chemistry and
figuring out how all
the supporting guys fit
around those two....
Jaren looks like he’sgoing to be a big-time
player. He didn’t have
the numbers, but he
had the impact of a
higher-caliber guy,
and without all the
missed games he could
have been a factor for
Rookie of the Year. With
his ability to possibly
switch five positions
and score inside-out,
he’s the ideal power
forward for today’sgame. Being around
Mike Conley and Marc
Gasol last season
will only help him....
Morant will just have
to adjust to the speed
of the NBA. He doesn’t
lack confidence, he
comes across as a
team-first guy and he
has a do-it-all skill set.
There’s going to be a
learning curve, and his
efficiency and turnoverswill be the things he
has to prove and solve
going forward.... JONAS
VAL ANCIUNAS is solid and
played well for them;
it can’t hurt keeping
him around.... BRANDON
CLARKE really stands out
with his athleticism and
ability to guard multiple
positions. He’s a hell of
a finisher.... They have
a lot of talented young
guys who are definitelygoing to have to take a
step up. GRAYSON ALLEN,
DILLON BROOKS coming off
injury, TYUS JONES still
proving himself, BRUNO
CABOCLO had an under-
the-radar effective
season. JOSH JACKSON
is trying to rebuild his
career, IVAN RABB is still
young. Of those six,
maybe three step up,
and those can be the
guys you roll with.Projected Lineup
BenchDespite a trying season and the
decisions to deal away franchise
icons Marc Gasol (at the deadline)
and Mike Conley (over the summer),
the Grizzlies did discover a new
cornerstone in No. 4 pick Jaren Jackson Jr. Playing
the entire year at age 19, Jackson became the first
rookie in league history to record 50 THREE-
POINTERS, 50 STEALS AND 50 BLOCKS WHILE
ALSO SHOOTING 50% from the field.
It’s an arbitrary mark, sure, but one that neatly
illustrates his skill set, which is ideal for where the
NBA is headed. At 6' 11", Jackson poses a threat
from all over the floor as a scorer while also being
able to anchor the defense. After lucking out in
the lottery, Memphis will be able to pair him with
point guard Ja Morant, whose top-end speed and
creative passing are a perfect match for Jackson’s
burgeoning inside-out game. The duo makes
the Grizzlies a compelling watch this year—and
potentially a true threat in the West. —Jeremy Woo50
TELLING NUMBER
SF
JAE
CROWDER*
11.9 PPG; 4.8 RPG;
39.9 FG%; 33.1 3FG%ENEMY LINES
A rival scout weighs inJAREN
JACKSON JR.
13.8 PPG; 4.7 RPG;
50.6 FG%; 35.9 3FG%PFStartersJA
MORANT (R)
24.5 PPG; 10.0 APG;
5.7 RPG; 49.9 FG%PG SF
KYLE
ANDERSON
8.0 PPG; 5.8 RPG;
3.0 APG; 54.3 FG%C
JONAS
VALANCIUNAS
15.6 PPG; 8.6 RPG;
1.1 BPG; 55.9 FG%PG
TYUS
JONES*
6.9 PPG; 4.8 APG;
1.2 SPG; 41.5 FG%SG
DILLON
BROOKS- 5 PPG; 1.7 RPG;
40.2 FG%; 37.5 3FG%
103DAVID DOW/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (MORANT)
MEMPHIS
2018 – 19 RECORD 33– 49 5th in Southwest
Grizzlies COACH TAYLOR JENKINS 1st season with Grizzlies∂22 wins ∂Miss the playoffs ∂A healthy Andre Iguodala enjoys a strong postseason run, the Grizz... do not.THE
WESTCrystal Ball: