A Memphis Grizzlies Overview, a Month Before the Season

Last Season Recap:

Last season was a statement season for the Memphis Grizzlies. They finished second in the Western Conference behind the Phoenix Suns, with a record of 56-26.  They had a decent run in the 2021-22 NBA Playoffs. In their two-playoff series, they won the first series (4-2) against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Do not let the fact that the Grizz won that series fool you though, it was a very rough and physical series. The Grizz lost to the Golden State Warriors in the conference semifinals (4-1). In that series, the Grizz were burdened by the injury of Ja Morant. That was the furthest the Grizz have gotten since the 2014-15 season.

Last season the Grizz also had an All-Star in Morant, who averaged 27 pts, 6 reb, and 7 ast. Ja Morant also won the Most Improved Player award, after winning Rookie of the Year two years prior. There was another candidate for that Most Improved Player award on the team, Desmond Bane, a second-year player for the Grizz who made a nine-point jump to 18 pts per game. The Grizz also had a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Jaren Jackson Jr. who led the league in blocks per game with 2.3 and in total blocks with 177. 

Offseason Recap:

This offseason for the Grizzlies was not the most entertaining offseason ever, but some important moves were made. This offseason, the Grizzlies signed Morant to a five-year maximum extension, where he will earn $193 million over those five years. This contract is the largest any Grizzlies player has gotten in franchise history.

On NBA Draft Night, the Grizz made a surprising decision and traded De’Anthony Melton to the 76ers for wing Danny Green and the 23^rd pick in the draft. With that pick, they decided to select forward David Roddy out of Colorado State. Earlier that night, Memphis traded the 22^nd and the 29^th pick for the 19^th pick to select forward Jake LaRavia out of Wake Forest. In the second round of the draft, the Grizzlies got a steal at the 38^th pick to take Memphis area native, Kennedy Chandler out of The University of Tennessee. They used their final pick in the draft to select Vince Williams Jr. out of VCU at 47. After the draft, they signed undrafted forward-center Kenneth Lofton Jr. out of Louisiana Tech.

When it comes to free agency, the Grizz did not make too many moves. They let Kyle Anderson walk, and he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. They also re-signed Tyus Jones for two years and $29 million. John Konchar’s contract was also extended this offseason.

Season Preview:

This season is looking like it will be a spectacular one. The Grizz are projected to have the ninth highest odds to win the championship at +1400. If you are a Grizzlies fan, you know that the Grizz always outperform what they are predicted to do. There are many players that have a chance to make a leap this season. Morant is capable of another jump, so are Bane and Jackson Jr. Even players like Ziare Williams and Brandon Clarke have the likelihood to make a jump, with Williams entering his second year, and Clarke making a jump last year.

The Memphis Grizzlies season opener is on Wednesday October 19^th when they will host the New York Knicks. Let’s go Grizz!!

Grizzlies Projected Depth Chart for 2022-23: