What we learned about GG Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies rookies during summer league
The excitement for another Memphis Grizzlies summer league run was dampened before it got started. Injuries to second-year center Zach Edey and rookie forward Cedric Coward left them unable to play, and Memphis fans did not have a chance to see two of what potentially could have been the team’s best summer league players.
Though injuries continued to be a theme, the eight games in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas offered plenty of information about the team, which is still building around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Both players are still relatively young, but championship windows open and close faster than a Morant coast-to-coast transition basket.
This was the first opportunity to weigh where the Grizzlies’ youngest players can help in the immediate future.
Here are some takeaways from summer league action.
How Jaylen Wells did
Jaylen Wells wanted to work more on his playmaking and shot creation. The eye test didn’t see a player who has taken massive steps as an offensive creator.
Wells already has the mentality to fix his weakness, and Memphis believes the second-year player can be a foundational piece moving forward.
How he attacks the rest of the offseason could affect everything from the starting lineup to the overall potential of the team. If his usage numbers are similar to last season's, when he didn’t have a large offensive role, Memphis should use its other projected wing spot opening on a player who can take pressure offensively off Morant.
Mysterious rookies
Coward wasn’t the only Memphis rookie dealing with an injury. In fact, each draft acquisition missed multiple games.
Jahmai Mashack’s start to summer league was delayed. When he played, he showed potential as a playmaker and 3-point shooter.
Javon Small played the last two games in Las Vegas and looked promising. His passing and ability to break down defenses could have made massive differences in the previous games.
Small and Mashack were drafted in part because of their defense, and the flashes were there. Preseason should offer an extended look at their overall skill sets.
Taking the next step
GG Jackson and Cam Spencer were two who were visibly much better than last season.
Jackson focused on being more efficient with his movements, and that led to an encouraging performance that could position him for a chance at securing a rotation spot. His ability to score off the dribble, combined with his defensive upside, is something that has intrigued the Grizzlies since they drafted him in 2023.
Like Jackson, Spencer’s offensive efficiency will give him a chance to battle for a rotation spot. He showed scoring ability at all three levels, but the shooting is what stands out. He connected on 13 of his 29 3-pointers during the Las Vegas games.
With Morant, Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on the roster, it's hard seeing Spencer crack the rotation, but his summer league shooting has given the organization something to consider.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.