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.
Questions and answers about the depth of the Memphis Grizzlies
Nov 17, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Jay Huff (30) reacts with guard Luke Kennard (10) during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Memphis Grizzlies won a basketball game on Wednesday night against the upstart San Antonio Spurs. Victor Wembanyama and company are ahead of schedule, but Memphis has had the Spurs number of late and rode a hot 4th quarter to a win. 10 straight victories now for the Grizzlies in San Antonio...as a long-time follower of this franchise that is a wild sentence to type out.
Who carried Memphis in the contest? The “big three” of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all had varying levels of success, as you would expect. But another season-long trend continued as well.
The Grizzlies bench - the highest scoring group of reserves in the entire NBA - picked up Memphis when the team needed them most. Luke Kennard was red-hot from three. Santi Aldama continued his dark horse Sixth Man of the Year campaign. Jay Huff hit numerous big shots.
Three starters - the previously mentioned Morant, Bane , and Jackson Jr. scored in double figures. And those three reserves also scored in double figures off the bench.
A great situation, right? Especially for a team that has had the injury issues that Memphis has endured the last couple years?
Yes...for now, it’s a wonderful gift. But it could become a curse as the weather warms in the months ahead.
Along with the Grizzlies being so deep - and that depth being reinforced soon by the returns of GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. - comes minute distribution questions. They can manifest in many ways. For example - the Grizzlies best players play fewer minutes than most other stars in the NBA.
Staying fresh is a great thing. But your best players need to play to actually maximize their advantage they have over most NBA players.
Top-tier analysis, right? Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr...they should play a lot! But who loses run as their minutes increase in the weeks ahead?
And some will see their roles cut out entirely. Kennard is a great example of that - earlier this season he had fallen from the rotation completely. One of the best three-point shooters of the last decade was getting no minutes...and you could make a logical argument for why!
If Luke isn’t making threes, he loses a lot of his value. But then a funny thing happened - when Marcus Smart went out and Kennard got his chance, he flashed not just elite spacing but shot creation as well. Over his last six games Kennard is averaging over four assists a game in addition to multiple threes made per contest.
That holds real value. But what happens when Jackson, and Williams Jr., and Smart return? Kennard almost certainly is not in the long-term plans for Memphis beyond this season. Do trade rumors resume? We know the Dorian Finney-Smith conversations were legit...do other opportunities centered around Luke’s expiring deal emerge?
The more Grizzlies return, the more questions arise. The more answers to potential rotation concerns, the more uncertainty about how the team will treat the NBA Trade Deadline rises.
Buckle up, Memphis. The next few weeks will be fun.
Jan 4, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) greets Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) before a game at Frost Bank Center. | Scott Wachter/Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
I only get to write this column once per week, so while we’re still technically a game or two short of the halfway marker for most teams, I’m here with some second-quarter awards anyway!
These are honors for the second quarter and second quarter only; they aren’t predictive. Word count limitations mean I have no margin for a longer introduction. You get it.
Interior Defensive Player of the Quarter
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
When it comes to analyzing defense, it isn’t fair to lump wings and guards with bigs; it’s like comparing a sports car to a heavy-duty pickup truck when you can only buy one vehicle. Instead, I split Defensive Player of the Quarter into interior and perimeter editions.
My Interior Defensive Player of the Quarter won’t shock: it’s Victor Wembanyama. I could throw a bunch of advanced analytics at you to prove the case, but instead, I’d ask that you join me in prayer: Holy mother of basketballs, protect your children from the harm Wembanyama inflicts upon them.
Ok, fine, here’s one fun, if basic, number. In the season’s second quarter, Wemby had an outrageous 69 blocks. That’s 30 more than second-place Myles Turner, despite the fact that Turner played in three more games. Let’s not waste time here.
Mike Shearer (@bballispoetry) has written about the NBA full-time since 2021 at various and sundry places. For more from Mike, check out his Substack bestseller, Basketball Poetry, where he uses unnecessary metaphors and the occasional haiku to discuss the NBA’s happenings with an analytical lens.
Home and Away
Ranking Zach Edey’s recent struggles have impacted his position on the Kia Rookie Ladder. Despite a strong start, his performance dip sees him sliding down the rankings. (Beale Street Bears)
Analysis The 2021 NBA re-draft places Evan Mobley and Franz Wagner as new contenders for the top spot, challenging the original selections and offering fresh perspectives on draft decisions. (Bleacher Report)
Nick Richards Traded to Phoenix Suns: Fantasy Basketball Impact and Analysis
Jan 12, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards (4) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas/Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Phoenix Suns have acquired center Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets in a trade that sent shockwaves through the NBA. While not a blockbuster deal, this move has significant implications for fantasy basketball managers.
In exchange for Richards, the Hornets received Josh Okogie and three second-round picks, while the Suns also got a second-round pick in return. At first glance, it might seem like the Suns got a steal, but let’s take a closer look at what this means for Richards’ fantasy value.
Richards has been averaging 21 minutes per game this season, putting up 9 points and 7.5 rebounds with 1.2 blocks. These numbers have him ranked 205th in category leagues, which is far from impressive. However, the change of scenery could potentially boost his value.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.
Ja Morant’s poster dunk on Victor Wembanyama highlights Memphis Grizzlies win over Spurs This is the Ja Morant we all know and love. The guy confident and audacious enough to DUNK ON VICTOR WEMBANYAMA! The guard that can dish out assists at an elite level while limiting turnovers. Memphis Grizzlies fans saw superstar Ja Morant on Wednesday night. How could you not be entertained? Host Joe Mullinax breaks down the game, Memphis’ depth, and GG Jackson’s slow but steady return progressing through the G-League on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
Are the Houston Rockets a bad matchup for the Memphis Grizzlies? Is it a silly question? Sure, the Grizzlies have lost three straight to the Rockets. But Memphis collapsed in the fourth quarter while having a double-digit lead. So who would have the advantage in a seven game series - the Grizzlies, or Houston? Hosts Damichael Cole and Joe Mullinax break that down and preview Memphis’ game with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
Memphis Grizzlies crumble in fourth quarter, lose again vs Rockets The Memphis Grizzlies dropped their third game this season against the Houston Rockets. In this episode, host Damichael Cole recaps the game, discusses key Taylor Jenkins decisions and provides an update on GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr.
