The Grizzlies acquired veteran forward Jerami Grant when they traded Ja Morant to the Trail Blazers. The 32-year-old power forward will likely start the season as either the oldest or second-oldest player on the roster, and he joins a team already loaded at the forward spots, Damichael Cole writes for the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
So how will he fit on the roster?
While Grant has primarily played power forward over the last few years in Portland, number three overall pick Cameron Boozer will likely command the lion’s share of minutes at that position, and the Grizzlies also have Karim Lopez and GG Jackson in possible need of time at the four. Having Grant play small forward could make things somewhat simpler, but Blazers beat writer Sean Highkin believes that Grant is firmly best suited to be a four at this point in his career.
He has become a good three-point shooter over the years, which could be helpful as the team looks to space the floor around Boozer and Zach Edey‘s rim prowess.
We have more from around the Western Conference:
- Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is back on the court and recently enjoyed a last-second win over Nikola Jokic‘s Serbian Team in the FIBA exhibition game. “It’s strange to suit up in France again, but honestly, there’s nothing easier than coming back and playing big games like this,” Wembanyama said after the game, per Johnny Askounis of EuroHoops. Wembanyama said that the French team is still finding its chemistry, so this friendly match was a good tone-setter that will help them grow as a group moving forward. He also felt that it gave him growth opportunities on an individual level. “You always learn when you play against Jokic,” Wembanyama said. “From those interior duels, you pick up counters, smarter footwork.”
- After trading Peyton Watson to the Cavaliers, the Nuggets quickly pivoted, agreeing to terms with DeMar DeRozan to provide bench scoring and playmaking. His presence serves to act more as a replacement for last year’s sixth man, Tim Hardaway Jr.than for Watson himself, writes Mark Kiszla of the Denver Gazettewho questions if the 37-year-old can change the Nuggets’ fate or improve their championship odds in a meaningful way. While the signing improves the team’s offseason, it only takes it from an F to a double D, Kiszla says.
- The Thunder hoped to find themselves back in the Finals last season, but ultimately fell short of that goal when they lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. As they try to get back to playing for championships this season, each player on the roster has improvement areas to address, Justin Martinez writes for The Oklahoman. For players like Alex Carusoit’s nothing dramatic: continue to showcase defensive versatility by taking some of the bigger matchups the now-traded Luguentz there used to guard. Chet Holmgrenon the other hand, needs to show that he can be the aggressor offensively during the playoffs, as he struggled to find a rhythm and make an offensive impact for the short-handed Thunder.