jay Huff’s ascension to the Memphis Grizzlies roster has been a dramatically quick one.
From the Summer League roster of the Orlando Magic to a full member of an NBA roster in five-ish months flat is an impressive turnaround. The undrafted big man from the University of Virginia hasn’t had it easy, to be sure. But his game has spoken for itself since his arrival in Memphis on a two-way deal.
Now? After just three games heading in to the Grizzlies game with the Bulls Monday night, it was announced that Huff was not going to be spending too much time in the G-League this season after all. He was inked to a multi-year deal to be with Memphis all year through.
You certainly can do worse at your 5th big spot than Huff, who has proven to be a better defender and athlete than you’d think he should be. Combine that with the range scoring that has been his calling card since his days with the Cavaliers in college, and you’ve got the makings of a player who maybe can crack a rotation.
But the question is, when the roster is (eventually) healthy, whose spot would Huff be theoretically be competing with?
Zach Edey, while not starting his rookie campaign as well as he would like, is a lock. So is Jaren Jackson Jr., of course. The way Santi Aldama’s carried over his Olympic success to the court for the Memphis Grizzlies almost certainly means he’s sticking on the floor as well.
So that leaves one name whose role on the roster is still likely safe...for now...but may not be long-term.
Brandon Clarke
While continuing to acknowledge the small sample size of the young season, Clarke has not been what Memphis needs their back-up center to be so far. He is shooting well below career averages - a player who used to be elite as a finisher at the rim is far from such a scorer at the moment.
He seems less bouncy and confident in his movements after his Achilles injury of over a year ago. And for a player who so much of what he does as a basketball players depends on that ability to leap, and then leap again, rapidly? that’s a major concern.
Of course, the team is not fully healthy at this moment. But what happens when GG Jackson - a young, talented combo forward who can play both the 3 and the 4 positions - returns around December? Perhaps Jay Huff falls back out of the rotation. But with Jaren, and Santi, and Edey, and GG, and Huff...is there really room for a $12.5 million a year salary in the front court anymore?
The answer may well be no. And depending on the trade partner (and the draft compensation Memphis would be willing to part with), Clarke and Marcus Smart’s contracts combined could mean big game hunting in the trade market.
It’s too early to bid anyone a fond farewell. But Jay Huff’s ascension makes moving on from a player like Clarke more likely now than it was a month ago. Keep an eye on how these two players do as the season progresses.
