Memphis Grizzlies Summer League Review: Part I

Thankfully Summer League is over for the Memphis Grizzlies – Grizz Twitter and the Bluff City Discord need a break. In honor of the occasion, I got together with Bluff City Media Associate Editor Shawn Coleman to break down the Summer League fun for the Grizzlies. In Part I, we tackle two heavy questions and look deeply at what can be learned from Summer League – and who best made their case to be part of an already loaded rotation for Memphis come training camp.

BCM Memphis Grizzlies Columnist Joe Mullinax (@JoeMullinax) – Well Mr. Coleman, Summer League has mercifully come to an end. It’s great to watch Grizzlies basketball while at the beach on vacation, don’t get me wrong, but for some reason everyone falls in and out of love with young players very hard when the competition level and attention to actually trying to win leaves a lot to be desired.

Let’s start with this question –

What do you actually get out of summer league regarding the team/organization?

BCM Associate Editor Shawn Coleman (@StatsSAC) – Haha, a good day to your Mr. Mullinax. And yes, another summer of enjoyable basketball from the young Grizz is in the books. It was certainly fun at times, but also at times painful to watch. But still, it is just a fun time to see where progress is being made, and where work still needs to be done.

It is important to keep in mind that at most, this is seven games of exhibition basketball, and mostly against non-NBA level talent. However, there are a few valuable observations that I think anyone who covers or cheers for a team can enjoy. For the Grizz specifically, it was reps for their young depth in areas it was needed. For instance, the Grizzlies need as many players as possible being comfortable taking threes. This is why Memphis was near the top of the Vegas Summer league in three point attempts. While efficiency and accuracy was not there now, these reps can make the consistency of different young Grizz making needs when they matter more in actual NBA games.

And of course, signs of progress from Summer league talents that may actually have a role
With the NBA roster. For instance, Kenneth Lofton Jr. Shooting 47% from 3 in Vegas and Jake LaRavia averaging nearly 9 three attempts is eye-opening. These numbers show an improvement from last season, with Lofton Jr. showing better accuracy and LaRavia showing more confidence and decisiveness. This proves development is occurring.

How about you, Joe? What stood out to you, especially when it comes to potential All Summer-League team candidate Kenneth Lofton Jr.?

MULLINAX – I agree with your overall take – a grain of salt must be assumed with all Summer League takes. I’ve been around long enough to think Jordan Adams and Josh Selby may be Grizzlies stars because of Summer League showings – of course neither of those two summer dreams became reality.

But I think Jake LaRavia’s showing this summer in particular was Santi Aldama-esque in that he looks primed for the opportunity he (and David Roddy and Ziaire Williams) will have to be the “bigger” wing in the Grizzlies rotation. While Roddy has a thicker frame primed for defensive aggression (and we know how Taylor Jenkins LOVES defense) and Ziaire has the experience advantage (plus the size one as a true perimeter player) it is LaRavia who combines defensive possibility with offensive probability. His sweet shooting stroke makes three-point potential legitimate, and he showed me enough off the dribble to suggest he can keep making enough gains there to maximize his long-range shooting. He’s my biggest “winner” of the summer so far.

Lofton Jr. is 2nd, and probably would be 1st if not for the mountain to climb to get minutes in a crowded Grizzlies front court. He’s likely going to be a top-awarded summer leaguer, as you alluded to, and he deserves it. I was most impressed with his growth as a distributor and defender – while he’s far from perfect in these areas, it’s clear he’s hearing feedback from coaches about holes in his game and trying to fill them. Effort was clear.

But was it enough to wrestle time away from Santi Aldama (6’11” is a natural advantage, plus a clearly defined perimeter game as opposed to Lofton’s strength in and around the block) and Xavier Tillman Sr. (the name we’ve mentioned so far with the most postseason success for Memphis)? There’s just such strength among the Grizzlies bigs that it may not work for him to get consistent run.

And don’t forget – Brandon Clarke is expected back, roughly around the start of 2024/the All-Star Break. What happens then? Lofton has proven he’s an NBA player…but it may just not come in Memphis (unless the Grizzlies move off of the injured Clarke or soon-to-be free agent Tillman Sr.)

Has Lofton Jr. moved the needle enough for you to part with more proven NBA rotation bigs like Clarke, Aldama, or Tillman Sr.?

COLEMAN – This year’s summer league further confirmed two valid and positive truths about Lofton Jr.: He is an NBA talent that can can currently contribute offensively and, most importantly, he can quickly improve and evolve his game in areas where it is needed. Lofton is a skilled scorer who is clearly improving as a shooter, and as you mentioned above, he is making strides with his passing and defensive playmaking. And most importantly, his decision-making of knowing how to contribute in all areas in a valuable way is most exciting.

There will likely always be natural limitations, due to lack of height and size that may impact Lofton’s upside. But a big key for his future success: he knows this. He has always known this, and as a result, his worth ethic and commitment to craft stands out for a player his age. He has an above average IQ and feel for the game, and also has a clear confidence of knowing to be physical, when to use his skill, and when to use both. In settings such as the Summer League and G-League, I imagine he continues to thrive.

But the big key is how does Lofton Jr. contribute at the next level this year? I think he currently should be slotted as the fifth big in the rotation, simply because Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams, Santi Aldama, and Xavier Tillman have all proven themselves at the NBA level so far. And that front-court rotation is also a nice mix of complementary talents that help out the Grizz both offensively and defensively. As a result, minutes could be hard to come by for Lofton Jr.

However, I do think he can carve out a meaningful role for himself as a source of instant offense. The Grizzlies used him a few times in this capacity last year. In stretches where it is mainly reserves in the game, Lofton Jr. can be a source of a quick offensive run for the Grizzlies to expand a lead or shorten a deficit, especially when the offense is struggling. That could happen at times while Ja Morant is out due to suspension and Clarke is working his way back from injury. A big key for Lofton, like we have seen Tillman do, is to always be ready when his time comes, even if minutes are scarce. That will be a huge indicator he will be ready to deliver and can be reliable in a bigger role as situations change in the future.

MULLINAX – I like the idea of Lofton Jr. as a niche rotation big. If Memphis is down 12 in the 3rd what sense does it make to go to Xavier Tillman as the next big? Lofton Jr. can provide that scoring pop, then come out before his lack of size/defensive acumen (if it still exists) becomes an issue.

In Part II, Shawn and I will discuss the significance of development while balancing that with contention as well as GG Jackson’s highs and lows in NBA Summer League. Be sure to check it out when it goes live Tuesday!!