How Tuomas Iisalo transformed Cam Spencer in exchange for Ja Morant

Tuomas Iisalo‘s The Memphis Grizzlies weren’t going to trade Ja Morant. Not in public anyway. Morant remains the franchise’s most electrifying talent, its most recognizable face and, when healthy and available, its emotional engine. But NBA offices plan for contingencies, and coaches who survive in this league tend to think two steps ahead. Over the past seven months, the Grizzlies have quietly done both, reshaping cam spencer from a complementary shooter into something far more consequential.

Spencer’s transformation was intentional, data-driven, and now, hard to ignore. Since Dec. 1, when Iisalo really began to trust the UConn member of the offense, he has averaged 13.7 points, 7.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 48.5% from the field, including 45.7% from beyond the arc. The 25-year-old is actually dishing out more assists than Morant (7.5) while committing far fewer turnovers (1.8 to 3.2) and taking fewer shots (13.7 to 21.2) in roughly the same amount of minutes.

The improvement isn’t against cookie-cutter competition, either. Spencer is averaging 8.5 assists per game in 2026, with six of those seven contests coming against postseason opponents. There seems to have been some forethought in the development of the new point guard.

Knowing that Scottie Pippen Jr. could miss the season and that Ja Morant might want to be traded elsewhere required an insurance plan.

“(Spencer’s) improvement started in late May when he committed to summer training,” Iisalo noted. “He really has a unique skill set in his shooting, so we set out with a clear goal of converting to that shot even more. That means instead of being in a position to be that catch-and-shoot guy, becoming a guy that can get out of pick-and-rolls. Then we use that against the defense because they have to be more aggressive.”

Iisal’s fingerprints are all over the shift. The coach didn’t simply give Spencer more freedom; he redesigned his role, starting months before the season ever began. The defense must now decide whether to stay home and let him create space for his teammates, or chase him through screens and risk giving up an open look to one of the NBA’s most accurate three-point shooters.

“To become a playmaker, this process changes (Spencer’s) natural position from more of a guard to a point guard,” Iisalo explained. “Defensively, he’s doing a better and better job. Offensively, he’s getting ready to create shots because of the gravity he has with or without the ball. That’s a great testament to the power of practice.”

That last part is more important than the boxing reflects. Spencer’s defensive responsibilities increased dramatically as he assumed primary ball-handling duties. While he will never be confused with a blocking perimeter defender, his improvement in that direction has made the position switch viable.

Zack Kleiman’s office is responsible for the long-term vision. While other teams may have panicked and made a desperation trade when Morant’s situation became uncertain, the Grizzlies invested in internal development. In Spencer, they saw raw materials that most appraisers missed.

His UConn pedigree helped. Spencer won two national championships with the Huskies, playing alongside future NBA players in a pro-style system. He understood winning basketball and knew how to function within a structure. The question was whether he could expand his game beyond that of a player role. Increasingly, the answer seems to be yes.

Spencer’s better than 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio over the past six weeks ranks among the league’s best in the league. He doesn’t force the issue or try to do too much; Spencer simply reads well and trusts his teammates.

So sure enough, the Grizzlies sit in the NBA’s last playoff spot despite the drama and injuries. It is a testament to organizational depth and Iisal’s coaching. Spencer’s emergence as a legitimate starting quarterback gives Memphis flexibility it didn’t have two months ago. If Morant comes back and commits to the team, they have high-level support. If not, they have a replacement for the entry caliber already integrated into the system.

Either way, Cam Spencer’s transformation from three-point specialist to NBA point guard represents one of the most impressive individual developments of the season. It’s also a reminder that player development, with proper coaching and dedication, can solve problems that seem to require expensive outside solutions.