Things to watch: Memphis Grizzlies Fans Receives More Tantalizing News to Cheer About

The future looks more promising for the Grizzlies than many realize. Conversations about the Memphis Grizzlies often center around the talented trio of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. These young players are already performing at a star level, indicating a bright future ahead. Contract management in the NBA also plays a big role, and discussions often touch on how their contracts impact the salary cap. Despite the potential for significant spending on JJJ’s extension in 2025, the overall outlook for the Grizzlies appears more optimistic than people might assume, thanks to the structure of their roster’s contracts.

“For the next three years, the Grizzlies have GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., Jaylen Wells, Scotty Pippen Jr., Jay Huff, and Zach Edey all signed to contracts that total under $ 18 million annually,” Shawn Coleman shared on X. “That’s six potential rotation players earning less combined each year than what Marcus Smart makes this season.”

THE GRIZZLIES HAVE A MORE ADAPTABLE ROSTER THAN EXPECTED.

Memphis boasts a solid trio of stars—Morant, Bane, and Jackson—while the supporting cast is notably strong. Though the players mentioned are young, this aligns with the team’s long-term strategy. General manager Zach Kleiman aims for this current group to integrate with emerging talents like GG, Zach, and Jaylen. These players address some of the team’s deficiencies, such as GG Jackson II fitting well in the small forward slot, while Edey appears ready to assume a long-term center role.

The team’s prospects are bright, as they have all the essentials needed for success. However, since their development paths vary, it will take time for them to reach their full potential. While they may not have a player like Marcus Smart in the future, having a dependable group signed to rookie-scale contracts is encouraging since they could evolve into starting-quality players.

The future is still bright for the Grizzlies

As long as Kleiman, coach Taylor Jenkins, and the rest of the Memphis organization manage to strike a balance between pursuing success and developing young talent, they have a legitimate shot at competing for a championship in the coming years. They’ve already established a good balance with Ja, Desmond, and Jaren, so bringing in additional players should not pose a significant challenge. The potential is certainly present, and with everyone under contract, it should yield positive outcomes in the long term.