5 Reasons Grizzly Fans Should Still Care Even After Stunning Losses to Kings, Warriors

Losses are piling up while I Morant watching from the side. Sure, the team’s 2026 NBA draft lottery chances are improving, but it would be easy for FedEx Forum’s staunchest fans to mentally check out the rest of the season. It shouldn’t, for the same reasons Tuomas Iisalo can’t. The The Memphis Grizzlies turned heads for all the wrong reasons lately, but there’s still a lot on the line during the final few weeks of the season.

While NBA playoff hopes have all but faded, this stretch is arguably the most critical evaluation period of the Zach Kleiman era. The front office needs answers before committing significant financial capital to its young core, and the court is currently flooded with players auditioning for their NBA futures.

GG Jackson was paid

GG Jackson was one of the most impressive players in the league, let alone on the roster. He is still one of the youngest players in the NBA. Now working without Jaren Jackson Jr., the South Carolina alum is averaging 17.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals/blocks while shooting 47.8% from beyond the arc. The 21-year-old was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dark February, essentially acting in a revamped version of the Desmond Bane-Jaren Jackson Jr. role.

Heavy usage, varied shot creation and increased defensive responsibilities are expected for the rest of the season. Jackson will not take Ja Morant’s place; no one can in memphis, except The Grizzlies need to pinpoint what will he be. The front office faces a critical financial decision regarding Jackson’s second contract.

His current performance suggests a valuation north of $10 million per year, taking him out of mid-level exception territory and taking on a long-term commitment. These final games are an audition for a significant payout.

Determination of point

Ja Morant trade drama aside, Tuomas Iisal also needs clarity at backup point guard. Neither does Cam Spencer Scottie Pippen Jr. he made it an easy call; Javon Small and Walter Clayton Jr. still need development reps. You Jerome seems more suited to an off-ball role. The Grizzlies are effectively down to six point guards and exactly zero safeties.

Pippen Jr. he brings toughness, fight and obvious respect for the city. He is exactly the kind of player a rebuilding team wants in the locker room. The problem is consistency. He hasn’t shown enough of that yet. The economy makes the decision seem urgent as well. Only $350,000 of Pippen’s $2.4 million contract is guaranteed for next season. That leverage gives Memphis a clear way out, but it also means these final weeks are essentially a rehearsal.

Spencer has shown that he may be one of the best shooters on the planet, although he continues to struggle defensively and deal with real caves for extended periods. If he can’t run the show, maintain elite shooting efficiency and be a little more solid as an offensive defender, Spencer’s minutes will evaporate once the roster is healthy. Getting the job done won’t be enough to warrant another contract next summer, especially if Memphis picks Darius Acuff or the Kingston Flemings.

You Jerome juggles emotions

Ty Jerome didn’t sign up for a complete rebuild. The wily 28-year-old veteran was signed expecting a competitive team around him, and instead, he’s leading a season that has lost most of its expected key pieces. An offseason injury that cost Jerome most of the season didn’t do anyone any favors either. No buyer’s remorse yet, but the Grizzlies and the rest of the NBA need something before the summer.

Expect Iisalo to provide plenty of opportunities. Increasing the value of Jerome’s $9.2 million contract that expires before the NBA Draft would help everyone move into empty-handed situations. A strong finish alleviates those lingering injury concerns and potentially turns a mismatched contract from the timeline into a long-term advantage.

Taylor Hendrix is ​​having a hard time

The Grizzlies have dealt with hitting their big men for far too long, and the problems continue. Even imperfect minutes could help the front office determine whether Hendricks fits in with the often-injured Zach Edey. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies didn’t get the right circumstances to put Jaren Jackson Jr. in favorable positions, according to Iisalo.

“I think with any player, whether it’s out of, say, a static situation, most of the time for a player like Taylor, it’s going to come off the catch. It’s getting past your guy, then making good decisions and developing that skill set of finishing at the rim or finding those open shooters. He was in a tough situation for the Goldeneye Warriors (again). game, and Taylor going to a new position after being on the team for a very short time, I thought he did a pretty good job because he hadn’t already practiced it once (with Zack Eddy).

Evaluations eligible for extension

The Grizzlies are approaching a series of roster decisions that will define the franchise’s financial outlook. Hendrix, Jackson and Jaylen Wells all are eligible to extend, meaning their future roles must be matched by a salary cap investment. That creates a natural hierarchy in the wing and off-ball rotation alongside Ty Jerome and Cedric Coward.

Kleiman’s front office can’t afford to enter extension negotiations with guesswork. Memphis needs data. Players need reps. They need to know who fits with whom when the core eventually returns.

Losses may dominate the box score, but a season of evaluation is far from meaningless. For the Grizzlies, the next few weeks will shape everything from the backup point guard job to future contracts. The future of the franchise is essentially decided on the floor every night. For fans who care about what’s next, there’s plenty to watch.