Grizzlies Takeaways from the 2023-2024 Annual GM Survey

We are less than two weeks away from the start of the 2023-2024 NBA season, and the Grizzlies are already producing good results on the court through two preseason games. Though Marcus Smart has yet to make his Grizzlies debut, Derrick Rose and many familiar names are getting off too good starts. The Grizzlies simply hope health remains in place and a few more threes start to fall.

The other fun aspect of this time of year is the annual NBA player rankings from many outlets that cover the league and the NBA GM Survey. When it comes to the rankings, I previously looked at where several Grizzlies should land on these lists. Though some lists go more for clicks (coughs, ESPN) than actual accuracy, the Grizzlies seem to have several players that stand out among their NBA peers.

Furthermore, this is the time of year when NBA General Managers are polled on their tops regarding several topics on the upcoming season. In recent years, the Grizzlies have stood out as one of the best young cores, with Ja Morant and a few others also receiving praise. However, with three straight playoff appearances and two straight top two regular season finishes in the West, Memphis is now seen as an annual playoff contender. As a result, this year’s NBA GM Survey revealed a bit more about the league’s current opinion of Memphis than in previous years.

Let’s look at how the league’s main decision makers currently view the Grizzlies:

Potential Regular Season Regression

The Grizzlies placed 6th in the projected Western Conference rankings among league GMs. These poll results were less about projected record and more about where teams were most likely to finish in the standings. As a result, it should not come as a surprise that the Western Conference teams with a bit more “star power” than Memphis were projected to finish ahead of the Grizzlies.

Of course, with Ja Morant not available for the first 25 games of the season, it is understandable why the league may think a slight step back in regular season success for the Grizzlies is possible. However, it is also noteworthy that Memphis had some votes to finish as high as third or fourth in the conference. This seems to suggest that though the league feels a slight regression could occur for Memphis this season compared to the last two years, there is a good chance they remain in the top six of the conference. It is refreshing to see that the league itself does not feel Memphis will fall too far down in the standings.

The Grizzlies Defense is Legit

The most positive result from the GM Survey for the Grizzlies is that league GMs feel that the Grizzlies defense truly is elite, and for multiple reasons. Here is how highly regarded the Grizzlies defense is among league GMs:

• Voted Second Best Overall Defense Behind Celtics
• Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart both voted among five best defenders in the NBA
• Jackson Jr. voted best interior defender, Smart tied for third best perimeter defender in NBA
• Jackson Jr. voted tied for fourth most versatile defender
• Taylor Jenkins voted second among coaches with best defensive schemes

The main takeaway from this lengthy list of acknowledgements is that there are multiple reasons why the league considers Memphis to be one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Sure, Jaren Jackson Jr. is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. But the league also recognizes that Jenkins consistently puts together effective defensive schemes and knows how to develop players on that end of the court.

The addition of Smart to go with Jackson Jr. and Jenkins’s defensive game plan seems to indicate the league recognizes the strength of this Grizzlies team is their defense. The reason this is encouraging is because in last year’s playoffs, both the Lakers and Heat made surprise runs largely because of their defense. If Memphis can simply remain healthy, they have a good chance of being the best defensive team in the Western Conference once again, which could make a difference once the postseason arrives.

Marcus Smart

Along with the praise that Smart received from GMs around the league for his work as a defender, Smart was also viewed as the most underrated new addition to a team in the league this summer. Furthermore, his trade from the Celtics to the Grizzlies was viewed as the second most surprising trade during the offseason. In my opinion, this should be viewed as a huge compliment toward Smart. It seems to indicate the league recognizes that he was an important part of Boston’s success in recent years with how many GMs were surprised he was traded. It also shows the league feels he could play a big role in helping Memphis take their next step toward contention as a franchise.

Furthermore, Smart remaining in the conversation of the best overall and perimeter defenders in the league is noteworthy. Smart’s defensive impact and production did fall off last season from his DOPY campaign two years ago. However, it certainly seems some around the league feel he could bounce back this season and remain highly effective on that end of the court. If that is the case, the head decision makers around the league have shown they feel Jackson Jr. and Smart could be the best defensive duo in the NBA.

Grizzlies Backcourt

Along with Smart and Jaren Jackson Jr., Morant, Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard were also mentioned in the GM Survey. Morant was voted as the most athletic and second fastest player with the ball in the league. Bane was an honorable mention as a potential breakout candidate for the NBA and also potentially being one of the players most likely to one day be a coach. Kennard was an honorable mention among the best shooters in the league.

The main takeaway from these mentions for the Grizzlies backcourt is that the league acknowledges just how versatile the it can be. Morant’s athleticism and speed coupled with Bane’s ability to take another step forward this season could make them one of the best offensive starting backcourts in the league once Morant returns. They have shown flashes of this potential in the past.

Bane and Kennard are legitimately one of the best duos of shooters in the league, while Smart’s defensive ability makes a difference on the other end of the court. The fact that Morant, Bane, Kennard, and Smart all have different yet significant aspects of their games that can impact the game in so many ways is highly encouraging for this Grizzlies team if it can remain healthy. If Smart can team with Jackson Jr. too anchor the defense while Morant, Bane, and Kennard generate success on offense, the Grizzlies could truly become one of the more balanced teams in the league.

Without a doubt, the end of last season generated more questions than expected for the Grizzlies offseason and as they entered the 2023-2024 campaign. And in truth, some of those questions remain in the present and need to be answered for the Grizzlies to take their next desired step as a franchise. However, it seems in general, the NBA’s head decision makers continue to see Memphis as a good team led by their defense, versatility, and depth. As a result, if the Grizzlies focus can remain on the court and taking care of business this season, then better than expected results both in the regular season and the playoffs could be a reality.