With a healthy Ja Morant returning and key pieces like Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, the Grizzlies have the talent to make noise. They also added 7-foot-4 rookie Zach Edey, who should take pressure off Jackson Jr. in the frontcourt. However, despite these positives, it’s unclear if this bounce-back season will push them to the top of the standings again. The Western Conference is as stacked as ever, and securing a top seed might be a stretch.
The Grizzlies have a strong defensive core, with Jackson Jr. just a season removed from being Defensive Player of the Year, and Smart, another former DPOY, bringing more grit to the backcourt. Bane is evolving into one of the best three-point shooters in the league, and if he stays healthy, his shooting and playmaking could make a huge difference. Memphis also has a solid rotation of role players like Luke Kennard, who was the second-best three-point shooter last season, and versatile young talent in Santi Aldama, GG Jackson, and Brandon Clarke.
Depth chart
The team has a total payroll of $172,912,454 for the 2024-25 season, ranking them 21st in the NBA.
Roster changes
Returning: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard, Brandon Clarke, Santi Aldama, John Konchar, GG Jackson, Jake LaRavia, Vince Williams Jr, Scotty Pippen Jr
Additions: Zach Edey (Purdue), Jay Huff (Denver), Jaylen Wells (Washington State), Yuki Kawamura (Yokohama), Cam Spencer (UConn)
Departures: Ziaire Williams (Brooklyn), Lamar Stevens, Jordan Goodwin, Trey Jemison (to New Orleans), Derrick Rose (retired), Yuta Watanabe (Chiba Jets)
Main strength
* Strong defensive core, featuring multiple former Defensive Player of the Year winners in key positions.
* Talented roster with high offensive potential, including elite 3-point shooting and playmaking.
* Addition of a towering rookie at center provides much-needed frontcourt support and depth.
* Solid role players, including top three-point shooters and versatile young talent, boost the team’s depth.
* Proven track record of success, with a core that has led to multiple 50-plus win seasons.
Main weaknesses
* Health concerns, with key players dealing with past injuries and potential long-term impact on performance.
* Uncertainty around returning to contender status in a highly competitive Western Conference.
* Potential over-reliance on young and developing players to fill critical roles, including at center.
* Early-season suspension of a key player, which could affect momentum and standings in a loaded West.
* Despite a talented roster, lack of significant offseason moves may limit growth in key areas.
Prediction
HoopsHype: 2nd in the Southwest Division, 6th in the Western Conference
ESPN: 1st in the Southwest Division, 2nd in the Western Conference
Sportsbooks: 47.5 projected wins
HoopsHype compiled the consensus win averages by gathering win projections from eight sportsbooks, including FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, DraftKings, ESPN BET, BetRivers, Caesars, and bet365.
You can follow Cyro Asseo (@CyroAsseo) on X, formerly known as Twitter.Â
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: 2024-25 Memphis Grizzlies: A quick preview
