ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins recently made a bold declaration that the Grizzlies are going to be a top-three team in the Western Conference this year, which is a huge jump from where they finished last season with a woeful 27-55 record.
The 2023-24 campaign was one to forget if you’re from Memphis since injuries essentially ruined their season, and fans are hoping for a better outcome this time around, which they are capable of doing.
The last time the Grizzlies were healthy, they had a 51-31 record in 2022-23, good for the second seed in the Western Conference at the time, although they lost to the Lakers in six games during the first round.
Can Memphis do it again (or even outdo themselves) this upcoming season? Continue reading below for our 2024-25 outlook here at SBOTOP.
Morant will look to make up for lost time
The Grizzlies can only go as far as where Ja Morant takes them since he is their franchise player. Last season, the two-time NBA All-Star couldn’t help the team as much as they needed him to due to injuries and suspension.
Morant was suspended for 25 games of the 2023-24 campaign because of his repeated gun-related incidents. And when he came back, Morant only played nine regular season games because he suffered a major shoulder injury that needed season-ending surgery.
He still posted robust averages of 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 8.1 assists on 47.1-per cent shooting during that stretch.
The good news for the Grizzlies is that Ja Morant is fully cleared to play. Fans certainly can’t wait to see him put up new NBA 2024 highlights because of his playmaking and explosiveness.
Morant will play alongside Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, and Luke Kennard at the backcourt. Smart and Bane were also injured for the most part last year and are hoping to be healthier this time.
Marcus Smart only made 20 appearances last season due to a finger injury, averaging 14.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.1 steals per game on 43-per cent shooting, while Desmond Bane played 42 games due to an ankle injury, averaging 23.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game on 46.4-per cent shooting.
Grizzlies have an intriguing frontcourt
The Grizzlies strengthened their frontcourt this summer by taking Zach Edey during the 2024 NBA Draft. The former Purdue Boilermakers center is one of the early preseason favourites by the NBA 2024 odds to win the Rookie of the Year award given his incoming opportunities in Memphis.
With Steven Adams gone and Brandon Clarke still injured, Edey can compete for a starting spot alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. Most analysts believe that the Grizzlies struck gold with Edey because his skills complement Jackson well.
Zach Edey, the No. 9 overall pick, won back-to-back Naismith Player of the Year awards and averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game on 63.4-per cent shooting for Purdue last season.
Because Zach Edey is in the paint, Jaren Jackson Jr. will be Memphis’ stretch four.
Jaren Jackson Jr. was one of the brightest spots for the Grizzlies last season, averaging 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks on 44.4-per cent shooting in 66 regular season appearances.
Other than Zach Edey, Memphis also have Santi Aldama, Jake LaRavia, and GG Jackson II, who all played well last season when the team was decimated by injuries. Among the three, Jackson has shown the most promise, although he’s currently sidelined due to a foot injury.
How the Grizzlies stack up in the Western Conference
The Mavericks, Timberwolves, Thunder, and the Nuggets are expected to claim the top four seeds in the Western Conference, but the fifth to eighth seeds are up for grabs.
The Grizzlies are one of those teams that can get it, but they’ll face stiff competition against the Clippers, Suns, Lakers, Kings, Pelicans, and Warriors.
The Clippers lost Paul George this summer, while the Lakers didn’t make any significant moves this offseason, and the Warriors also lost Klay Thompson to free agency.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, are in a stalemate with star forward Brandon Ingram, and the Kings got even better with the marquee signing of DeMar DeRozan.
With all these said, making it back to the playoffs is not enough for Memphis this upcoming season, especially if the injury bug won’t haunt them.
On paper, they should make it at least to the Western Conference semi-finals and maybe give their higher-seeded counterparts a huge run for their money by then.
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