September in the NBA always brings excitement and new questions. For the Memphis Grizzlies, training camp opens later this month with a sense of cautious optimism. The franchise has been a playoff fixture in recent years, but last season’s collapse from a top spot in the Western Conference to a disappointing finish left scars. Now, the organization has recalibrated, reshuffled, and recommitted around its cornerstone stars, but the ceiling remains unclear.
Memphis Grizzlies Enter Camp With Questions and Quiet Optimism
From Bane to Balance
The most significant change came early in the summer when Memphis shipped out Desmond Bane, their homegrown scoring guard, in a blockbuster trade with the Orlando Magic. In return, they landed veteran 3-and-D specialist Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, whose championship pedigree and defensive reliability fit the Grizzlies’ new balance ethos. The trade was less about giving up on Bane than consolidating a plateaued core.
The message was clear: Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are the foundation, and the pieces around them must complement, not crowd, the stars. The re-signings of Jackson and versatile forward Santi Aldama, plus the free-agent addition of Sixth Man of the Year candidate Ty Jerome, give Memphis a lineup that can score from multiple spots without overrelying on one perimeter scorer.
The System and the Big Man Bet
If there was a silver lining to last year’s turbulent finish, it was how first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo adjusted on the fly. His decision to lean heavily on the pick-and-roll between Morant and rookie center Zach Edey created an offensive wrinkle opponents struggled to contain. The seven-foot-four Edey’s soft hands and improving footwork gave Morant a reliable lob threat, while also opening the floor for Jackson to space out.
That tandem looked promising in stretches, and the front office doubled down on the idea by adding more flexibility on the wing. Drafting Cedric Coward with the No. 11 pick, a versatile swingman with size and upside, signals Memphis is leaning into switchable lineups and matchup creativity.
Injury Clouds on the Horizon
Training camp will not start with a clean slate. Jackson is recovering from offseason toe surgery, while Edey continues to rehab from an ankle procedure. Both are expected back at different points, but their availability will shape the Grizzlies’ opening months. Without them, the rotation tilts heavily toward smaller lineups, with Morant asked to shoulder even more responsibility early.
The schedule does Memphis no favors. After a manageable three-game homestand to start the year, the Grizzlies face 10 playoff teams in a gruelling 13-game stretch. If they can hover near .500 through that gauntlet, reinforcements in Jackson and Edey’s return could provide a midseason lift.
The Grind Beyond Beale
Memphis is also set for the international stage. They will endure an unusual wrinkle in the calendar: a 10-day European trip in January to face the Orlando Magic twice. That stretch creates five separate sets of back-to-backs between Christmas and the All-Star break, a punishing rhythm for a team already banking on health improvements. Managing minutes and depth will test Iisalo’s adaptability as much as Morant’s explosiveness or Jackson’s defensive anchor role.
Quiet Confidence, Not Overconfidence
For all the roster turnover and scheduling hurdles, the Grizzlies are not without promise. Caldwell-Pope provides playoff experience this group sorely lacked. Jerome’s playmaking adds bench stability. Coward offers a developmental swing. Most importantly, Morant is entering the season with clarity. There are no suspensions or distractions this time, just basketball.
The word around Memphis is not “championship or bust.” It is “let’s see what we have.” That tempered mindset may suit them better than in past years when expectations outpaced reality. If Jackson and Edey come back strong, if Iisalo’s system continues to evolve, and if Morant stays healthy, the Grizzlies might not just tread water. They could surprise the conference all over again.
Featured image: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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