Joe Mullinax here, the host of the daily Locked On Grizzlies podcast, with your daily Locked On Grizzlies newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Grizzlies and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The highs and lows for the Memphis Grizzlies a quarter through the season
Dec 1, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Memphis Grizzlies are 14-7 at the de facto quarter marker of the 2024-2025 NBA season. Which surely beats the heck out of the alternative.
You remember the alternative, right dear reader? 6-15 through 21 games last season? The hopelessness? The nerves? The wild attempts at math to try to figure out what it will take to get in to the PLAY-IN???
Dark times. This is much better.
Jaren Jackson Jr. being a legitimate All-NBA contributor? That’s a much brighter spot to focus on. Ja Morant will likely retake the mantle once he’s able to play consistently (more on that in a moment), but one quarter of the way through the season? Jaren Jackson Jr. is the MVP of the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s dominating defensively. He’s scoring at will offensively.
He’s a walking, talking, mismatch - and he’s potentially fully realized.
Another plus? The fact that Memphis is so deep, a dude that scored 30 points and dished out 10 assists a few games ago is now the 11th man as the team gets healthier. How could anyone realistically argue that this isn’t the deepest team in the NBA? Scotty Pippen Jr. could be a starter on a couple (admittedly probably bad) basketball teams in the NBA the way he has played for much of the season so far.
And right now? He’s the 11th MAN. Luke Kennard - one of the best three point shooters of this century - played just 14 minutes against the Pacers Sunday. And three guys are still out due to injury (GG Jackson/Vince Williams Jr./Zach Edey) that before the season began were projected rotation members!
It’s a great problem to have. But it also serves as a reminder that numerous Grizzlies players have missed numerous games so far this season. Ja Morant and Desmond Bane highlight the long but distinguished list of players that includes the aforementioned trio still currently out, plus Kennard and Marcus Smart.
It’s hard to advocate for a consolidation trade when you’re not sure the roster will actually ever be fully healthy.
It’s also hard to argue for such a deal when a key cog in the Grizzlies machine is sputtering at the moment. Desmond Bane is currently suffering through one of the worst cold streaks of his career. His scoring is down - basically all his numbers across the board are - and he seems to be struggling adjusting to the new-look Grizzlies offense as other players find greater success.
The funny thing is, though, that as fun as Memphis being back among the regular season’s best is, the playoffs are way more fun. And getting Desmond Bane back to the level we’re accustomed to seeing must be a priority the next 21 games of this season. Perhaps tonight against a Dallas Mavericks team that spurned him in the 2020 NBA Draft will be a good place to start.
14-7 is great. But more is expected of this group - most importantly by themselves. The journey continues.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) is helped up by center Jay Huff (30) and forward Jaylen Wells (0) during the second quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum. | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
In mid-November, when the Lakers beat the Grizzlies at home in L.A., it was in large part to the efforts of Dalton Knecht. The rookie was upset that a week before that game the Grizzlies very tidily (to the tune of 131-114) put the Lakers away in Memphis, but more specifically, that Ja Morant challenged LeBron James. Knecht told ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin that Morant said “he was pretty much the new king around here when Bron’s still in the league.”
This is about the Grizzlies, it is, but Knecht’s umbrage was directed at the crucial element that’s powered Memphis for so long, and what’s put them back on top after last year’s wash of a season: outsized confidence.
It’s been called disrespect, showboating, ego, but whatever the Grizzlies are being called is less important than the baseline quality of confidence the labels all spring from and the team embodies. I’ve also found these other monikers telling— like a league temperature check — depending on who is levelling them and as a result of what. In Knecht’s case, he felt it disrespectful that Morant would make such a claim but Morant’s been saying it for seasons now. What started as general agitation and prowess for his own team seasons ago, a means to get an underdog Grizzlies team fired up, worked. It also turned into something greater: Morant hasn’t replaced James yet but the weight of expectation is there, so is the pathway. The side-effect, this time, was giving a rookie like Knecht his “Welcome to the NBA” moment.
The Grizzlies are sitting third in a densely competitive Western Conference, ranked fifth overall in offence and fourth in defence, and they’ve secured these spots despite largely being without Morant, their diamond-in-the-rough of Desmond Bane, and big man Zach Edey. Jaren Jackson Jr. sits comfortably on over a dozen league leaderboards, including points per 36 minutes, field goals per 100 possessions, block percentage and defensive win shares. Scottie Pippen Jr. Is an assist machine with the kind of court vision that usually takes seasons to sharpen; Jay Huff can sharp-shoot the three and the next possession take the ball up for a reverse dunk right in front of LeBron James.
And there’s no slouch in them. All down the roster, despite the injury gaps, Memphis counts seven players who average at least and typically more than 10 points a game. Of those seven, all split their minutes, with Jackson Jr. averaging the most at 29:20 a game. The result is an early depth that not many other teams can rival...
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Ranking The new NBA power rankings didn’t do the Grizzlies justice for their hot streak. Despite their recent success, their position seems undervalued. NBA power rankings underappreciate the Grizzlies’ performance. (Beale Street Bears)
Opponent A Lakers starter sought revenge on Ja Morant over perceived disrespect to LeBron James, adding tension to their encounters. This rivalry brings additional drama. Revenge on Ja Morant fuels rivalry with Lakers. (Sports Illustrated)
Rumor The Knicks and Grizzlies reportedly showed trade interest in a Warriors champion, sparking speculation about potential roster changes. This could impact team dynamics significantly. Trade interest in Warriors champion. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview The Grizzlies will play the Mavericks at the American Airlines Center at 8:30 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Dec 2, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis/Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Injury Updates and Player Returns
As we navigate the NBA season, keeping an eye on player injuries and returns is crucial for fantasy basketball success. Jeremy Sochan is potentially making a comeback, and I recommend adding him in all league formats. Mark Williams is another player to watch, as he’s been upgraded to questionable. While his return isn’t guaranteed, it’s worth considering adding him to your roster. Meanwhile, Draymond Green is listed as questionable, but Steve Kerr has expressed doubts about his availability. This opens up opportunities for Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney, and Trace Jackson-Davis to step up in his absence.
Waiver Wire Trends
The waiver wire is buzzing with activity, and it’s essential to stay ahead of the curve. Vasa Micic is the most added player, filling in for the injured LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann. While this isn’t a long-term solution, Micic is a solid pickup until one of them returns. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is another player to consider, especially with the Magic’s favourable schedule. He’s a great streaming option, but don’t expect consistent season-long value. Marcus Smart is also gaining traction, and his recent performances make him a worthy addition.
On the flip side, Isaiah Stewart, Moussa Diabate, and Naji Marshall are among the most dropped players. Stewart’s value is inconsistent, making him an easy drop. Diabate’s minutes are dwindling, and Marshall’s role is uncertain. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome have also seen significant drops, with Jerome’s value plummeting due to Caris LeVert’s return.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. lead the way as Grizzlies win sixth straight Memphis - you’ve got a winner. The Grizzlies are riding high near the top of the NBA’s Western Conference thanks in large part to the contributions of both Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Hosts Damichael Cole and Joe Mullinax discuss their play, Memphis’ shaky-at-first win over the Indiana Pacers, and much more on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
What to buy and sell with the streaking Memphis Grizzlies The Memphis Grizzlies have won four straight games and five of their last six. What can Grizzlies expect to stay around for Memphis that has gotten them this far? And what should we be selling off on, for better and for worse, with this team? Host Joe Mullinax discusses that and previews Ja Morant’s return against the New Orleans Pelicans in NBA Cup action on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
Marcus Smart’s big night leads Memphis Grizzlies to fourth straight win Marcus Smart scored 25 points in a 131-111 Grizzlies win on Wednesday night. In this episode, host Damichael Cole breaks down Smart’s performance, Jake LaRavia and the bench depth, plus Brandon Clarke’s growth.
