What Is The Perfect Memphis Grizzlies Rotation?

It’s time to win in Memphis.

Weather is warming. The calendar is turning. Winter is becoming spring, and with that regular-season basketball becomes postseason basketball. The Memphis Grizzlies are within a game of the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference…and are a game away from the No. 5 seed. There is a major difference between potentially hosting two playoff series and going on the road in round one…only to see Oklahoma City in the second round.

For all intents and purposes, the playoffs have arrived for Ja Morant and the Grizzlies.

With that in mind, it’s time to maximize the Memphis rotation. Some ground rules.

1. The team is healthy. The team, of course, is currently not healthy. But this is a hypothetical exercise. So let’s imagine the Grizzlies world is a less injured one.
2. The rotation goes nine deep. The last time Memphis made the playoffs in 2023, a nine-man rotation was deployed by Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins. That’ll be the standard here as well.
3. Development time is over. If Jenkins and Memphis lose in the first round of the playoffs, it is likely the end of Jenkins’ time with the Grizzlies. Urgency reigns, not youth movements or theoretical abilities.

Let’s begin with how the game starts— because that will be different than how it will end.

The Starters

Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaylen Wells, Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey

If it ain’t broke? Don’t fix it. And the Memphis Grizzlies boast the most efficient lineup in the entire NBA among five-man groups that have logged at least 175 minutes together. In fact, the Grizzlies mark (+27.8) is 8.4 points per 100 possessions BETTER than the second-best group number from the Celtics (+19.4).

So why doesn’t Memphis’ starting five get more respect? Because they don’t play together nearly enough. This group has logged 176 minutes together this season, while the Celtics starters have played 242 minutes.

This is partly by design and partly due to injury, remember. The Grizzlies have gone 11-deep in the rotation numerous times all season long and have had 15 players log at least 260 minutes for the team so far this season. The Celtics only have 11.

The big three of Morant/Jackson Jr./Bane next to a wing 3-and-D player in Wells and an “elite at being big” big in Zach Edey makes the most sense to start a game. If Edey cannot hang in a given matchup (more on that in a moment) the team can identify and recover. Same goes for fellow rookie Wells if he is not up to snuff in any given game.

With that in mind, while they’re starters, they’re not playing more than some bench players.

Minutes distribution

For Morant, Bane, and Jackson Jr.? 36 minutes is the expectation the rest of the way.

While recent games have inched closer to that goal, they’re still not all the way there yet. However, it’s important to note that in the playoffs, there are no back-to-backs, so this shouldn’t be an issue.

For their fellow starters? Wells gets 26 minutes and Edey gets 24 minutes, but on a short leash. Edey is especially growing as a rebounder (especially offensively) and blocking shots. That holds value. But if he cannot honor defensive assignments, or avoid being targeted repeatedly by opponents in switches, then he cannot play.

Thankfully? The next two lead minute getters play similar positions to Edey. Both Brandon Clarke and Santi Aldama will receive 26 minutes off the bench in this scenario. But if you work within the confines of positions, that many minutes aren’t available at the “traditional” big spots.

Which is why the Aldama/Clarke/Jackson Jr. trio would be explored more— because their net rating of +11.4 with a defensive rating under 100 is surprising. But they have not played more than 100 minutes yet! Santi has improved as a perimeter defender and in spurts, playing him and Jaren at 6-foot-11 alongside the 6-foot-8 Clarke would allow front-court switchability.

In the back court? Luke Kennard (16 minutes) and Vince Williams Jr. (14 minutes) get the nod. Kennard is posting the best assist-to-usage rate of his career and remains one of the best combo guard scorers in the league. And if we assume health, the minutes and role for Williams Jr. will likely be bigger than this given his ability to both shoot the ball and defend. Memphis was 6.4 points better last season with Williams Jr. on the court. Here we lean in to that productivity returning.

Honorable mention goes to GG Jackson Jr., who will provide offensive firepower in a pinch if needed, and Scotty Pippen Jr., who can be an emergency lead guard.

Closing contests

Bane, Morant, and Jackson Jr. are a given. Where change comes is around them. Edey will not play late unless in a specific situation (rebounding a free throw). His limited ability to stay in front of a perimeter player or play numerous different defensive coverages disqualifies him for now.

Wells, meanwhile, will be a game-by-game decision. When he’s on? He’s the best perimeter defender Memphis has consistently. When he’s off? He is a liability.

Who fills the void? Here’s where the depth of Memphis pays off. If holding a lead and needing stops, Brandon Clarke and Vince Williams Jr. make the most sense as replacements. If buckets are the goal, Santi Aldama and Luke Kennard can provide those in bunches.

None of these four names are stars. But that’s the point. The Grizzlies need Morant and Jackson Jr., and to a lesser extent Bane, to carry that load. But the complimentary pieces around them are truly solid fits.

Your belief in the Memphis Grizzlies likely connects to that reality. Can Ja Morant be the superstar? Will Jackson Jr.’s All-NBA leap this regular season carry over to the playoffs? Time will tell. But the Grizzlies have the pieces around these three to make a run in the postseason this year.