Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant are back as centerpieces as the retooled Grizzlies look to make another run. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Get Caught Up
2024-25 Record: 48-34 (8th in West, lost in First Round)
Memphis wrote a worst-to-first narrative in the beginning. After a league-low 105.8 points per game in 2023-24, the squad fired on all cylinders early in 2024-25, averaging 121.7. They finished just 0.2 points shy of topping the NBA in that metric as Ja Morant (23.2), Jaren Jackson Jr. (22.2) and Desmond Bane (19.2) led the attack.
The second half of last season, though, was a bumpy ride, as the Grizzlies dropped 10 of their final 16 contests. Taylor Jenkins – the franchise’s winningest coach – was fired with nine days remaining in the regular season, and the group settled for the No. 8 seed in a photo finish race to the postseason.
That put Memphis on a collision course with the Thunder in the opening round of the playoffs. The group couldn’t break through Oklahoma City’s stifling defense, ultimately suffering a sweep, setting an offseason carousel in motion.
Offseason
- Re-signing: Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr. (extension), Cam Spencer
- Additions: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade), Ty Jerome (free agent), Jock Landale (free agent)
- Draft: Cedric Coward (11th pick, acquired via trade), Javon Small (48th pick), Jahmai Mashack (59th pick, acquired via trade)
- Departures: Marvin Bagley III (free agent), Desmond Bane (trade), Jay Huff (trade), Luke Kennard (free agent), Lamar Stevens (overseas)
- Unsigned Free Agents: N/A
Signing Jaren Jackson Jr. to a 5-year extension was a big step forward. He averaged over 22 points per game for the second straight season last campaign and his 37.5% 3-point percentage was his best since 2019-2020. Jackson Jr. becomes that much more valuable for the Grizzlies following the trade of Bane to the Orlando Magic.
Cedric Coward is an intriguing addition as the biggest riser from this year’s draft, while two-time champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can be a glue guy at guard. Memphis went out and improved its 3-point shooting as well by bringing in Ty Jerome, fresh off the most productive season of his career. Losing Bane stings, but if the Grizzlies can maximize their young core, then they should be able to compete in a packed West.
Ja is an ARTIST when he goes airborne 🎨
NBA Dunk Week continues with the Grizzlies' high-flying star! pic.twitter.com/3dRQrJMSrX
— NBA (@NBA) July 22, 2025
X-factor
Ja Morant. When Morant is available, he remains one of the most electrifying players in the game. The 6-foot-2 star attracts plenty of cameras with his high-flying jams and remains a potent scorer, having averaged 23 points or more in four consecutive campaigns.
Morant’s athleticism translates to the defensive end as well – with a career-high-tying 1.2 steals per game in 2024-25 – and he’s one of the few players in the NBA who can truly take over a game. With three other starters returning alongside him, he should have the tools he needs to perform at a high level, and often.
> Watch Ja Morant on NBA League Pass
One key question
Will coach Tuomas Iisalo slow down the tempo? Memphis led the league in pace last season with a furious 103.69 possessions per contest. Opponents who turned the ball over or didn’t defend the fast break struggled against the Grizzlies. Although responsible for a 35-16 start to the season, it was a strategy that didn’t get the squad far in the playoffs.
But with Jenkins no longer patrolling the sideline, and lisalo able to start fresh in 2025-26, he has the liberty to mold the offense to his vision. Perhaps his game plan will be slower, more methodical, in a way that puts Morant front and center. Or perhaps his philosophy is similar to that of his predecessor. Memphis can dig down defensively when needed, but ultimately, shots need to fall on the other end.
Fantasy Outlook from RotoWire
The team at RotoWire broke down the top fantasy options for each team in the West. Here’s how they broke down some of the best options from the Grizzlies:
“Tuomas Iisalo will lead the way after finishing the previous campaign as an interim, and Memphis will have to adjust to life without Desmond Bane, who was traded to the Magic in the offseason. Bane had been the Grizzlies’ second-best player throughout prolonged stretches over the last two seasons, and it’s uncertain if Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be able to replicate his production. Thus, the Grizzlies will probably revert to their gritty identity, one that makes the team stand out on the defensive end of the court. They’ll rely heavily on Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., though Morant’s absences, as well as Jackson’s long-awaited offensive explosion, certainly limit the ceiling of the team.”
Key dates
- Preseason Opener: Oct. 6 vs. Pistons (8 ET, League Pass)
- Regular Season/Home Opener: Oct. 22 vs. Pelicans (8 ET, League Pass)
- Emirates NBA Cup West Group B Play: Oct. 31 vs. Lakers (9:30 ET, Prime), Nov. 7 vs. Mavericks (8 ET, League Pass), Nov. 26 at Pelicans (8 ET, League Pass), Nov. 28 at Clippers (10 ET, League Pass)
- NBA Global Games (Berlin): Jan. 15 vs. Magic (2 ET, Prime)
- NBA Global Games (London): Jan. 18 vs. Magic (12 ET, Prime)
What they’re saying
Zach Harper, The Athletic: “Memphis is resetting things a little with the structure of its books by sending away Bane. It’ll sacrifice on the court for now, but the Grizzlies can now figure out what this team looks like and how that gets structured with Tuomas Iisalo running the sidelines. They get to do that while bringing in all of that draft capital to use either as cost-effective roster additions (and this team is really good at identifying young talent) or in trades to bring in help for Morant and Jackson. It’s a step down for now, but it’s a good look toward the future.” (Read More)
