Memphis Grizzlies 2022/2023 Season Preview
The Grizzlies elevated their game last season and clinched the second seed in the Western Conference despite injuries to Ja Morant, and start this season as one of the leagues most dangerous teams.
Despite a strong showing last season, the front office has elected to make several changes. De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson were moved on to make room for Danny Green and Kenny Lofton Jr. The team also drafted Jake LaRavia with pick #19, David Roddy with pick #23 and Kennedy Chandler with #38 in the June Draft. Vincent Williams Jr rounded out their draft haul at pick #47.
The team also signed Tyus Jones as a free agent, and retained the services of John Konchar and corner-stone Ja Morant with contract extensions, rounding out an off-season focused on adding further youth and talent retention as the team continues to build. Steven Adams' contract extensions adds a balance of veteran leadership to the team going forward also.
Jaren Jackson Jr (pictured) will miss the start of the season with injury, and it might be too much to overcome if the Grizzlies want home-court in the first round given the depth int he Western Conference. Credit: Hoops Habit
The Grizzlies surprised many, myself included, when they went on a win streak after Ja Morant went down last season. Upon his return, it took a few games to re-integrate and adjust the system, but the team figured it out and got back to their winning ways. This bodes incredibly well for a team that has added a balanced blend of veterans and youth this off-season and may well need to fight through adversity this season as the Western Conference looms to be the toughest it’s been in a decade or more.
The team will be banking on improvement from Brandon Clarke and Desmond Bane, as well as the impact of a host of rookies, in order to keep pace with an improved West, and will need just that given Jaren Jackson Jr is slated to miss the start of their campaign after undergoing surgery in the off-season.
The Grizzlies have kept largely the same roster in-tact from last year, with some peripheral additions to help blend their combination of youth and veterans. While immensely talented across the board, Jaren Jackson Jr missing an extended period of time to being the season may be too much to overcome if they hope to have home-court in the first-round of the Playoffs.
Ceiling: 4th seed
Floor: 8th seed.