Previewing the 2024-25 Memphis Grizzlies
September 4th, 2024
by Alan Lu
The Memphis Grizzlies were going to have a tumultuous season last year, as their superstar point guard Ja Morant was suspended for the first 25 games of the season due to an offseason incident for repeatedly brandishing firearms. As a result, the Grizzlies got off to a sluggish start, and while he provided them with a boost, he then got hurt and ended up missing the rest of the season, and 2024 became a lost year for the Grizzlies. Some wonder if it’s because Morant wasn’t able to play very much, while others may wonder if it’s because they lost Steven Adams, Dillon Brooks, and Tyus Jones and were struggling to replace their production in the lineup last season, as it was likely a combination of all of those things.
On the bright side, G.G. Jackson had a very good rookie season, and he is a promising forward that will look to build off of it for the upcoming year. They’ll finally be able to have a healthy Ja Morant and Marcus Smart, whom both struggled with injuries at various points of last season. On the other hand, they are in a very competitive Western Conference, and while Morant, combined with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane should allow them to be very competitive, there is a concern that they will need to adjust much more quickly in order to get back to the playoffs in 2025.
Ja Morant played just 9 games in the 2023-24 NBA season after missing the first 25 games due to suspension, and he later ended up missing the rest of the season due to shoulder surgery, and he will look to have a better 2025 season. (Photo: Brandon Dill/Associated Press, via USNews.com)
Star Players:
G Ja Morant, F-C Jaren Jackson Jr., and G-F Desmond Bane
Ja Morant is a very athletic, skilled star point guard that has helped his team win many regular season games, but he’s run into a slew of off-court incidents that have gotten him suspended lately. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a dynamic big man that can stretch the floor, finish plays above the rim, and he also won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Desmond Bane is a sharpshooter that is one of the best shooters in the game.
On the other hand, Morant has gotten into off-court incidents that have led him to get suspended at times, and Jaren Jackson Jr. has had trouble rebounding or staying away from foul trouble, which hurt him in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. It also didn’t help that Morant only played nine games before missing the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury. They’ll need to get back into the swing of things, and they’ll need to recapture their magic if they want their season to go well this year.
Additions:
C Zach Edey, F Jaylen Wells, F Mamadi Diakite, and G Cam Spencer
Zach Edey is a big strong center that excels at making plays in the paint. He is a polished player that can score in the post and excel as a roll man, and he is a terrific rebounder that can be a defensive anchor. Some may be concerned about his mobility and lack of willingness to take jump shots or adapt to the modern game, but Edey has a game that would likely suit him well to the Steven Adams role as a rookie. Jaylen Wells is an athletic sharpshooter, and Mamadi Diakite is an athletic big man that can stretch the floor and provide some rim protection. Cam Spencer played very well in the Las Vegas Summer League, and he is a smart, sharpshooting combo guard that could play his way into the rotation.
Subtractions:
F Yuta Watanabe, F Lamar Stevens, and G-F Ziaire Williams
They lost a sharpshooter in Yuta Watanabe in free agency, who had a down season in 2024, and Lamar Stevens was a 3 and D role player that can help teams off the bench. Ziaire Williams looked like a promising swingman after having a surprisingly solid rookie season, but he’s struggled in the two seasons after that, as his jump shot and offense have not improved since then, so the Grizzlies decided to trade him and move on from him.
Rookies:
C Zach Edey, F Jaylen Wells, and G Cam Spencer
Of the three of them, Edey figures to be the most likely candidate to get ample playing time on the Grizzlies this year, and he is a candidate to make one of the two All-Rookie teams for 2025. All three of them have a solid shot to crack the rotation on the Grizzlies.
Expected Rotation:
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Desmond Bane is a sharpshooting swingman that will be an integral player to the Memphis Grizzlies for the upcoming season.
(Photo: Petre Thomas/USA Today Sports, via SB Nation’s Frogs O’ War)
The Grizzlies have a talented group led by Ja Morant, and they have three All-Star caliber players. They will need Morant to stay healthy and avoid getting into more incidents, and they will have to battle in the very competitive Western Conference to try to make the playoffs in 2025.
Projected Starting Lineup:
F-C Santi Aldama
Key Bench Players:
GG Jackson is a talented forward that had a very good rookie season, and Grizzlies’ fans will be excited to see him play his second season on the Grizzlies in the NBA, but unfortunately, he will miss some time due to a broken foot he sustained in late August. (Photo: The Canadian Press, via TSN)
The Grizzlies have a fairly solid bench, and they have a talented young group of players that can step in and contribute to their team.
G-FJohn Konchar
The Rest of the Roster:
F-C Mamadi Diakite
G Scotty Pippen Jr. (Two-Way)
G Cam Spencer (Two-Way)
C Jay Huff (Two-Way)
Team Options at the End of the 2025 Season:
Here I will project the likelihood of the Memphis Grizzlies to pick up and accept or decline the team options for various players at the end of the 2025 season.
Jake LaRavia – 50/50, Leaning Towards It Will Be Accepted (50% Certainty)
Head Coach:
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Taylor Jenkings has helped the Grizzlies win a lot of regular season games in 2022 and 2023, but 2024 was a down season for his team, and they will need to find a way to get back to the playoffs in 2025.
(Photo: Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Taylor Jenkins
2023-24 (MEM): 27-55, missed the playoffs
Coaching Career: 206-185, 9-14 in the NBA Playoffs
Taylor Jenkins has helped the Grizzlies win many games in the regular season over the years, but his team had a surprising early exit in the playoffs in 2023, and they missed the playoffs entirely in 2024. They will need to regroup and figure out how to adjust to their opponents to be able to make the playoffs in 2025.
NBA Head Coach Rank: 23
Outlook:
The Memphis Grizzlies will need to rebound from a bad 2024 season to try to make it to the playoffs in 2025, but it won’t be easy. (Photo: Joe Rondone/The Commercial Appeal)
The Grizzlies have plenty of talent on their roster, but their 2024 season cratered last year when Morant was suspended and then only played nine games before going down to a season ending shoulder surgery. They also lost a lot of key veterans last season, which played a role into their lost 2024 season. This season, the Grizzlies will need to stay healthy, but the Western Conference has also gotten stronger, so it’s uncertain if the Grizzlies will be able to find a way to get to the playoffs in 2025.
Projected 2024-25 Finish:
Expected Win-Loss Record: 37-45
Projected Regular Season Finish: 12th in the Western Conference
Expected Playoff Finish: Projected to miss the playoffs
Preseason NBA Power Ranking: 22
I went to Basketball-Reference and SalarySwish to look up some information for this write-up. It will be an exciting basketball season this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the upcoming NBA season will unfold. Anyways, that is my write-up on my preview of the 2024-25 Memphis Grizzlies. Thanks for reading.