With the return of GG Jackson to the Memphis Grizzlies active roster this past Monday and increasing evidence that Vince Williams Jr. will be back soon, barring catastrophe (knocks on all of the wood) Memphis will once again be “healthy”.
Praise be to Grizz.
But the challenge for Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins and his staff is that those two, plus Marcus Smart (whose timeline is less clear but you’d imagine he will play again soon...right?), make up 30% of the alleged 10-man rotation Jenkins wants to eventually get to. 12 players logged minutes Monday afternoon against the Timberwolves - and Williams Jr. and Smart were in street clothes.
So what should the “new-look” Grizzlies rotation look like once the team is “healthy” (knocks on all of the wood again)? Here’s one simple podcaster/newsletter writer’s crack at it.
STARTERS -
Ja Morant (32 minutes)
Desmond Bane (32 minutes)
Jaylen Wells (25 minutes)
Jaren Jackson Jr. (34 minutes)
Zach Edey (25 minutes)
RESERVES -
Santi Aldama (22 minutes)
Brandon Clarke (20 minutes)
Vince Williams Jr. (18 minutes)
GG Jackson (18 minutes)
Marcus Smart or Luke Kennard* (14 minutes)
Some takeaways -
REWARD THE ROOKIES. Not many title contenders can honestly say they’re a contender while starting two rookies. That is the current state of play for the Memphis Grizzlies. And while Memphis has indeed struggled against higher level competition, and veteran presence would be welcomed, it’s not like beyond Smart and Kennard that is really present on the wings. And would you play those two ahead of Rookie of the Year front runner Jaylen Wells right now?
No? Thought so.
In the absence of Jimmy Butler and Cam Johnson, Memphis is better off riding the wave of youth. At 25-ish minutes a game on average their run is limited so they aren’t necessarily hitting the feared “rookie wall”. They’d be my first guys out as well - getting them run against other reserves could/should build confidence.
YOU MUST PLAY GG JACKSON. Feels like it shouldn’t be controversial. But Jenkins said GG playing on Monday was not necessarily in the plans - he did it looking for a “spark”. The “spark” is the 6'9" 230 pound combo forward - oh, sorry, spoiler alert. I wanted GG Jackson as the 6th man bucket getter when the season began before his injury. The injury may have derailed that somewhat, but he needs run. He’s your best bet at maximizing the reserves’ scoring potential even more.
ROOM TO BE THE “FACILITATOR”. Note the end of the rotation. Kennard and Smart - two veteran players who have been the topic of trade rumor. Note that Jake LaRavia and Scotty Pippen Jr. are not in this rotation, and neither is Jay Huff.
Could the Grizzlies “act” like a seller at the deadline, acquiring more draft capital and/or young talent, while getting better as a roster? With Jackson and Williams Jr. coming back, it is possible. That’s a testament to this front office and coaching staff.
But that’d be quite the leap of faith in two players who have missed most/all of the season to this point. Something to keep an eye on as the trade deadline approaches.
