#IMHO: A look at Grizzlies’ wings
Lang WhitakerGrind City Media’s Lang Whitaker and Michael Wallace have been covering the NBA since shorts were short and socks were long, but their opinions about the League don’t always mesh. #IMHO is their weekly chance to weigh in on the most pertinent news from around the NBA. What’s lit? What’s lame? Find out each week right here.
From: Lang Whitaker
Date: Monday, March 23, 2020 at 10:59 AM
To: Michael Wallace
Subject: IMHO: Wings
Mike:
Last week we took a look at the Grizzlies’ guards, where there is currently both quality and depth. This week I thought we could take a look at the wing position, which, at least coming into the season, was considered a position of need for the Grizzlies. Now, however, maybe not so much?
These days the Grizzlies have several good options on the wing, and that list starts with Dillon Brooks. DB missed most of last season with that freak toe injury, but he showed up this year an improved player, and I don’t think he gets enough credit for the work he obviously put in to improve his shooting. That ability to score has opened things up for him on the offensive end, and while he still has some rough edges—another team’s announcer recently told me, “Your boy Brooks is wild!”—that edge is what makes Dillon, Dillon.
Add to that his defensive ability, and I think Dillon has become the best wing player on the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies apparently agree, recently signing Dillon to a long-term deal that gives the team flexibility while giving Dillon some security.
Considering the growth we’ve seen from Dillon thus far, Mike, my first question for this week is how else do you think Dillon can expand his game?
From: Michael Wallace
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2020 at 12:17 PM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO: Wings
What’s happened with Dillon is an ideal example of how a player takes pride in his development and his team takes care of his future by rewarding the progress he’s made within the system. Brooks arrived as an overlooked prospect in the draft, selected with the No. 45 pick of the second round a few years back. Since then, he’s played for three different coaches in Memphis, endured a front-office and roster overhaul and remains the last man standing from the end of the Grit’N’Grind era of the franchise.
That, alone, speaks to Dillon’s resilience and toughness. He quickly became a rookie starter who played all 82 games two seasons ago to having most of his second NBA season cut short by injury to now becoming a core piece of the team’s bright future on the wing. At the time the season was suspended by COVID-19 fears, the Grizzlies were 18-4 in games when Brooks scored at least 20 points. I would say right now, Dillon is the second-best two-way player on the team behind Jaren Jackson. We know he can defend. You’ve articulated how much he’s improved his scoring ability. But the next step for Dillon to take is to become a better facilitator off the dribble. He’s averaging more than 14 shot attempts per game, but just two assists. For as much as the ball is in his hands, he’s gotta find a way to better set up other teammates. Dillon commands attention, especially coming off screens and in the pick-and-roll game. So the next natural progression is for him to balance shot-taking with playmaking. Creating plays off the dribble would be a huge next step.
Lang, the season was unfortunately suspended just when we were about to see the true depth and potential the Grizzlies have on the wing. Josh Jackson was just starting to come into his own, and was a regular in Taylor Jenkins’ closing lineups. Recently acquired swingman Justise Winslow was on the verge of making his Grizz debut after rehabbing from the back issues. Dillon was gaining his groove and Anthony Tolliver was producing on a 10-day contract as another three-point threat. There’s plenty of potential versatility within that group. But there might not be enough minutes available to go around for everyone who deserves some run. So when the season eventually resumes, how should Jenkins sort through it all?
From: Lang Whitaker
Date: Monday, March 23, 2020 at 4:00 PM
To: Michael Wallace
Subject: Re: IMHO: Wings
It’s a great problem to have, and since he’s a former coach of the month just a few weeks back, Taylor seems like a capable guy to come up with a solution. He seems like mixing and matching lineups down the stretch of games, going with whoever has played well that night, using a sub for someone in foul trouble, or perhaps finding an advantageous matchup. Having more options will only give Taylor more flexibility.
That said, I think the real answer is that it’s going to be situational. When he’s fully healthy, I think Winslow moves into the starting lineup at the 2/3. De’Anthony Melton has mostly played out of position the last few months, starting at off guard, so there are probably some minutes to be had there, which allows Melton to slide back to his role with the second unit. And with Grayson Allen out for the season, there’s another 16 minutes a night still needing to be filled, some of which might trickle down to John Konchar.
The one guy we haven’t mentioned is Kyle Anderson, who while he’s technically a “big,” plays more like a wing, creating on offense and able to switch everything defensively. I remember you and I talked about Kyle one day early in the season, wondering where (or if) he fit into Coach Jenkins’ system. It took a while, but Kyle has been indispensable of late.
Speaking of indispensable, Josh Jackson has been fantastic for the Grizzlies since his call up. I don’t know if the Grizzlies can keep Josh Jackson long term, but he’s clearly a terrific fit for what the Grizzlies have asked him to do. Or maybe I’m not looking at that the right way: Maybe Taylor Jenkins and the Grizzlies know how to maximize what a player can offer, and the specific player doesn’t matter as much as just having the time to help develop that player into what the Grizzlies need.
What do you think happens with Josh Jackson this summer when he hits free agency?
From: Michael Wallace
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 11:24 AM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO: Wings
Because the Grizzlies declined his option at the beginning of the season, there are some limitations in terms of what kind of deal they can offer Jackson. With the way Jackson and the Grizzlies were trending this season, he was on the verge of blossoming into a key role as a scorer and defender on the wing. He was the team’s leading scorer in the month of March when the season was cut short. At that rate of production, potentially heading into the playoffs, there’s no telling how far Jackson’s stock would have been able to rise.
In some ways, depending on whether the season resumes or is ultimately nixed for a clean reset for next season, it may push Jackson and the Grizzlies into a situation where both might benefit from reconnecting on a one-year deal for next season. To your point, it seems like everyone who has gotten a chance to perform in Taylor’s system has answered the call and improved their games. If Jackson is willing to take a second-unit role, it would be amazing to see the Grizzlies go into next season with a bench group sparked by Tyus Jones, Melton/Grayson Allen, Jackson, Brandon Clarke and Gorgui Dieng.
But it will take some sense of a sacrifice on Jackson’s part. He’d be betting on himself for another year before locking himself into some sort of career security. But by all indications, Jackson loves it in Memphis and with this organization. There’s a trust and comfort level from both sides that’s grown through some initial adversity. And both sides have delivered on their promises.
Lang, we’ll wrap up the wings discussion on two guys we haven’t talked about much lately. And that’s Grayson and Marko Guduric. This season hasn’t gone quite like either one of them could have expected, with Grayson suffering a season-ending hip injury and Guduric struggling to find a steady role in the rotation. Both are under contract for next season, but it’s hard to see a clear path forward if most of the current roster remains intact. Of the two, who is the better fit for a role moving forward?
From: Lang Whitaker
Date: Monday, March 31, 2020 at 10:01 AM
To: Michael Wallace
Subject: Re: IMHO: Wings
Well, first of all, what is the role? I think of the two guys you mentioned, Grayson has been able to define a role for himself a bit more clearly. As a bench player, you’re expected to come in and produce immediately, to bring some energy and impact the flow of the game. And to me, Grayson was able to do that more consistently this season.
Marko started the season in the rotation, but struggled with making shots, and then struggled with taking shots. Last week I live-tweeted the replay of the Grizz/Nuggets game from January on the Grind City Media account, and it was a game where Marko got significant playing time and played well. If Marko can play with that kind of energy consistently, I think he absolutely could be part of an NBA rotation.
The thing about Grayson is that he brings an element of athleticism that Marko just doesn’t have. Grayson can also shoot the ball from distance, and we saw him get into a groove beyond the arc the last few weeks he was playing before his hip injury. But when he’s healthy, Grayson’s ability to get out on the break, as well as to drive and finish at the rim makes him, to me, a more appealing long-term prospect than Marko.
Published on Apr 02, 2020
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