5 flaws that Tuomas Iisalo must focus on while Ja Morant gets healthy

Promise a a new era for the Memphis Grizzlies is mitigated by a familiar sting. After months of envisioning a triumphant return to Western Conference contention, the first 14 games have been sobering for Tuomas Iisalo‘s Memphis Grizzlies. A familiar, poignant reality is set early, as evidenced by the opening 4-10. Then electrifying the engine of the franchise, I Morantwas once again sidelined, leaving a void of goals, play and sheer gravitational pull that is simply unmatched.

However, the job description was clear. Iisalo must stabilize a franchise that is bleeding wins and confidence. The Finnish tactician’s approach, characterized by quick substitution patterns and relentless pace, created friction with Morant, adding another layer of complexity to an already challenging situation. Although Iisal’s arrival has brought a wave of optimism with a hint of skepticism, Ja Morant’s absence further exposes the roster’s glaring vulnerabilities.

With Morant out, this is the perfect time to fix the structural issues so that when the 26-year-old returns, the machine is ready to go.

Stability is needed for the starting five

The first challenge for Iisal is the constant rotation caused by injury. The revolving door of starting lineups prevented any semblance of rhythm or chemistry. One night, it’s a big lineup with two big men; next, it is a smaller unit for tempo and space. This inconsistency breeds disjointed ownership and defensive miscommunications. Iisal’s system, based on player movement and reads, cannot function without a stable core group.

Jaren Jackson Jr. he missed the first few games of the season recovering from foot surgery. Zach Edey he didn’t make his season debut until mid-November after offseason ankle surgery. Brandon Clark remains out after knee surgery. Point guard depth evaporated when Ti Jerome(calf) went down before the start of the season; Scottie Pippen Jr. is recovering from toe surgery.

These absences forced Iisal to field smaller squads with Jock Landale at center and Santi Aldamao replacing him at forward. Javon Small and Cam Spencer were pushed into minutes beyond their experience level. The chaos in the lineup came to a head when Morant left Saturday’s game against Cleveland after just six minutes, prompting another change.

Iisalo must quickly identify a starting five that can provide balance and stick around long enough to build cohesion, even if it means sacrificing some short-term matchup advantages. Stability is the foundation on which all other improvements are built. However, the coach’s trademark wave of three to four minute substitutions may have to be adjusted.

Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey awkward

On paper, pairing the perennial NBA Defensive Player of the Year with the reigning National Player of the Year creates an incredible frontcourt. On the court, the chemistry between Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey is a work in progress. Jackson Jr., accustomed to working as the primary edge-protecting center, is adjusting to life alongside another seven-footer. Edey’s traditional paint-based offensive game can clog up lanes, complicating Jackson Jr.’s offense.

With Morant out, the frontcourt duo must take on more scoring responsibility. Jackson Jr. needs to rediscover the aggressive mindset that earned him NBA MVP attention and back-to-back All-Star selections. Edei, who is averaging 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in limited minutes, requires expanded opportunities to develop his offensive post game and screening efficiency. However, the big Canadian is on a minutes restriction for at least another week.

Santi Aldama adds wrinkles

With increased opportunity comes greater responsibility, and Santi Aldama is ready for a breakthrough. The Spanish forward has shown flashes of versatile offensive play, but to become a cornerstone, he must add a new wrinkle. Aldama’s role has often been as a spacer, but he has the handling and passing skills to do more. Iisalo should bolster him as a secondary playmaker, running the offense through him at the top of the key or on the short throw.

Asking Aldama to create more for others and attack the shutdown off the dribble would diversify an offense that can stagnate and take significant pressure off the backcourt. The Spanish forward has quietly emerged as one of Memphis’s most consistent performersaveraging 12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in 14 games while shooting 46.3% from the field. At 24 years old and entering his fifth season, Aldama is a versatile modern big man who can stretch the floor, crash the glass and defend multiple positions.

Still, with the team’s offensive struggles, Aldama has yet to evolve from a reliable contributor to a secondary scorer. His shooting touch from beyond the arc regressed slightly to 31.3% after posting 34.3% for his career, limiting his ability to punish defenses for collapsing on Morant and Jackson. His 2.5 assists per game suggest untapped playmaking potential that could ease some of the ball-handling pressure.

Iisalo should empower Aldama to attack mismatches more aggressively, especially against slower big men who struggle defensively in space. Expanding his mid-range game would create additional scoring options when the paint is crowded. With Jackson Jr. and Eddy deserving of interior attention, Aldama’s ability to make defenses profitable from 15 feet could unlock easier looks for everyone.

Jalen Wells needs a job

Jalen Wells possesses the type of prototype size and shot that every NBA team covets. The challenge is figuring out how to best utilize the second-year sensation’s other skills. Is Wales just a catch-and-shoot specialist, or can the 22-year-old be trusted to put the ball on the floor and attack viable? Can the former Division 2 star hold up defensively against starting-caliber wings for another 82 games?

Throwing Wales into the deep end without a defined role is a recipe for inconsistency. Forget Jimmy Butler’s contests and All-Star potential. Maximizing Wales with Ja Morant out is essential to bolstering the team’s perimeter depth in the postseason. Iisal’s staff needs to identify one or two things Wells does well and put him in a position to succeed by doing only those things initially. That could mean devising sets to push him for corner threes or pairing him with certain opponents on the bench where his length can be disruptive.

A clearly defined role accelerates development and builds self-confidence. The broken wrist that ended his rookie season robbed him of playoff experience, but this regular-season adversity offers different lessons. Learning to produce while defenses focus on stops will accelerate his development into the two-way player Memphis envisions as a long-term build.

There are no real minutes

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Oliver-Mackenzie Prosper are also two of the team’s most logical trade assets that can potentially consolidate talent later in the season. Caldwell-Pope, acquired in the offseason to provide shooting and defense, has underperformed, averaging 7.9 points on 35.6% shooting in 13 starts. His two-year, $44.38 million contract remaining seemed reasonable when he provided championship experience and reliable perimeter defense, but the production didn’t match the price. The Lakers reportedly tracked him before the season, suggesting there would be interest from a contender at the trade deadline.

The mandate for Iisalo is twofold: first, use them effectively to win. Caldwell-Pope’s perimeter defense and shooting are essential to the current lineup. Second, and just as crucial, is to put them in a position to maximize their trade value. This isn’t just a holding pattern for the Grizzlies; it is a window of opportunity. Iisalo has time to bring structure, define roles, deepen the rotation and develop younger pieces so that when Morant returns, the team is sharper, more cohesive and more prepared for postseason contention.

Fixing these five flaws now won’t guarantee a championship, but it will ensure Memphis doesn’t waste a chance. If the loss continues, Iisalo may not survive to implement any long-term vision. But if he can stabilize the roster, build chemistry between Jackson and Eddy, free up Aldama and Wells and maximize available assets, the Grizzlies could salvage respectability from their nightmare start.

The timeline for Morant’s return remains uncertain, but his absence creates an opportunity for others to prove themselves and for Iisal to establish his system without the shadow of coach-star tension. The Finnish tactician’s European success means nothing without NBA results, and the next few weeks will determine whether Memphis made the right choice or whether a new coaching change is imminent.