• The Memphis Grizzlies won 51 games last season but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2023 playoffs

• Ja Morant will miss the first 25 games of next season

• The Grizzlies replaced Dillon Brooks with Marcus Smart

The Memphis Grizzlies had an incredible 2022-23 regular season. They went 51-31 and were the second seed in the Western Conference. Many pundits picked the Grizzlies to make it to the Western Conference Finals.

However, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers humbled by the Grizzlies. Los Angeles defeated Memphis in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in six games. 

The Grizzlies made a big change this offseason, trading Dillon Brooks to the Houston Rockets and acquiring Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics. Let's take a look at Memphis' projected starting lineup for 2023-24. 

Point Guards

Starter: Ja Morant

Reserve: Derrick Rose

Ja Morant is one of the best point guards in the NBA. He averaged 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 8.1 assists last season while shooting 46.6% from the field, 30.7% from beyond the arc, and 74.8% from the free-throw line.

Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, Morant will miss the first 25 games of next season. He was suspended by the NBA for showing a gun on an IG Live video for a second time. Morant was suspended for eight games in March after the first incident last season. 

Morant will have to adhere to certain conditions before being reinstated and is ineligible to participate in any public league or team activities, including preseason games, during his suspension. The Murray State product was due to make around $33.5 million next season. He stands to lose just over $300,000 per game during his suspension, which is approximately $7.5 million.

Morant will be eligible to return from his suspension on December 19 against the New Orleans Pelicans. While the superstar is out, former MVP Derrick Rose will likely start for the Grizzlies at point guard. 

Shooting Guards

Starter: Marcus Smart

Reserves: Luke Kennard, Josh Christopher

Marcus Smart averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists last season for the Celtics while shooting 41.5% from the field, 33.6% from beyond the arc and 74.6% from the free-throw line. The rugged defender, along with Derrick Rose, will have to play very well while Ja Morant is out for the Grizzlies to stay competitive in the Western Conference.

An anonymous member of the Grizzlies told Keith Smith of Spotrac that the franchise is thrilled about acquiring Smart from the Celtics. Memphis believes Smart is a "perfect" fit.

“Marcus Smart is perfect for everything we want to be,” the anonymous member of the Grizzlies said. “We want our players to be tough, versatile, intelligent, and to sacrifice for the team. And they have to represent what we want Grizzlies to be and to do right by Memphis. Marcus is going to teach some of our young guys how to win in ways they haven’t quite figured out yet. We couldn’t be happier to have him.”

Smart won the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year Award. He has career averages of 10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists. 

Small Forwards

Starter: Desmond Bane

Reserves: Ziaire Williams, David Roddy

Desmond Bane appeared in 58 games last season for the Grizzlies. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting 47.9% from the field, 40.8% from beyond the arc, and 88.3% from the free-throw line.

An anonymous member of the Grizzlies told Keith Smith of Spotrac that signing Bane to a rookie-scale extension was a “primary objective” for the franchise this offseason. Bane signed a five-year, $197 million extension with Memphis.

“Locking up Desmond was our primary objective this offseason,” the anonymous member of the Grizzlies said. “We now have our entire core under long-term deals. And they are all 25 and under. How many other good teams can say that?”

Bane was the 30th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Celtics drafted him out of TCU and traded him to the Grizzlies. Bane has career averages of 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

Power Forwards

Starter: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Reserves: Brandon Clarke, Kenneth Lofton

Jaren Jackson Jr. made NBA history last season, per StatMuse. He became the first player ever to average at least 3.0 blocks and 1.5 3s per game.

Jackson Jr. appeared in 63 games last season. He averaged 18.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 3.0 blocks while shooting 50.6% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc, and 78.8% from the free-throw line. The 23-year-old made his first All-Star team and won the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Jackson Jr. led the NBA in blocks per game last season. He will have to take his offensive game to another level while Ja Morant is out for the first 25 games of next season for the Grizzlies to win games. 

The Grizzlies have the last two Defensive Player of the Year winners in Marcus Smart and Jackson Jr. JJJ is looking forward to playing with Smart in 2023-24. 

“That doesn’t happen pretty often or ever,” Jackson Jr. said, via Jerry Jiang of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I just know what he brings to Boston. I’ve seen it before I was in the league and it’s crazy.”

Centers

Starter: Steven Adams

Reserve: Xavier Tillman

Steven Adams only played in 42 games last season due to a right knee injury. The big man averaged 8.6 points and 11.5 rebounds while shooting 59.7% from the field. 

The Grizzlies, who missed Adams' size against Lakers star Anthony Davis in the 2023 playoffs, went 28-14 with Adams in the lineup during the 2022-23 regular season. 

Adams will be back in the lineup for the Grizzlies to begin next season. The 30-year-old is averaging 7.5 points and 10.6 rebounds in 118 games with Memphis. Adams signed a two-year, $25.2 million extension with the Grizzlies in October 2022.

With Adams back in the fold, Xavier Tillman will return to his bench role and feast against reserves.