The Memphis Grizzlies just allowed the Sacramento Kings to snap a 16-game losing streak against them. The team is severely undermanned in the frontcourt due to injuries and trades, and the Kings took advantage. Despite that, the Grizzlies’ most urgent roster hole isn’t as glaring as it may seem right now. Their frontcourt is in disarray, but not for long.
Memphis doesn’t lack talent in the frontcourt; it lacks balance. Injuries have primarily exposed weaknesses that no amount of internal development can solve. Their front office now faces a defining challenge: identify the Grizzlies’ main issue and address it accordingly. The roster’s current construction already reveals which deficiency most directly limits the team’s ceiling.
Identifying the Grizzlies’ Most Urgent Roster Hole
The Roster’s Strengths Mask a Critical Imbalance
On paper, Memphis features intriguing pieces across multiple positions. Young scorers, versatile forwards, quality point guards, and developing rotation players provide a foundation that many teams would envy. However, lineup construction tells a different story.
The Grizzlies’ biggest issue isn’t who they have, it’s the balance they have at each position. As currently constructed, the team has only one true center on the roster: Zach Edey. Brandon Clarke plays the majority of his minutes at center, but has only been available for one game this season. On the surface level, this appears to be the Grizzlies’ most urgent roster hole.
Their wing position is probably the deepest it has ever been in the franchise’s history. However, it lacks a true number one option, and rookie Cedric Coward is missing key developmental time while out with a knee injury. The point guard position has depth, but their clear number one option, Ja Morant, is likely heading out this offseason.
The Grizzlies’ roster construction is obviously incomplete, and their next big move is learning where they will pick in the draft. Ultimately, the NBA Draft Lottery will determine how the Grizzlies’ most urgent roster hole is handled.
Drafting Best Player Available is the Smartest Strategy
Much discussion within the Grizzlies’ fan base has been about the preference of players and positions to draft. Zach Edey and Cedric Coward were identified as building blocks by general manager Zach Kleiman. Considering their positions at center and on the wing, point guard feels like their biggest need in the draft. That position also represents the most depth, but the projected top picks play other positions.
While Ja Morant’s exit feels inevitable, adding another high-level player to play on the wing next to Coward is an option. However, players like GG Jackson and Jaylen Wells can remain as his running mate if the Grizzlies improve elsewhere. Power forward is open as a position of need after the trading of Jaren Jackson Jr. Then again, Santi Aldama remains on the roster, and Taylor Hendricks is getting an opportunity now to prove his worth, along with Olivier Maxence-Prosper.
For a team still shaping its identity, locking into positional need can create more problems than it solves. The Grizzlies’ most urgent roster hole is high-end talent. They have capable players who can produce, but elite-level players are what are missing the most. Prioritizing BPA protects Memphis from short-term thinking, preserves flexibility for future moves, and maximizes its chances of landing a true difference-maker rather than a role-specific fit.
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