Why Scotty Pippen Jr. believes he can step into Desmond Bane-type role for Grizzlies in 2025-26
NBA fans might feel like the Memphis Grizzlies are poised to take a step back in the 2025-26 season after trading Desmond Bane, but Scotty Pippen Jr. feels otherwise.
"I feel like everyone's excited," Pippen told Damichael Cole and Joe Mullinax of Locked On Grizzlies. "I feel like this is our year. Last year we kind of started hot and kind of took a little dip. This year, I feel like we're all excited and ready to get to it."
The Grizzlies were busy even before the offseason officially began, dealing Bane to the Orlando Magic for a package that included Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and draft pick compensation. Anthony and the Grizzlies later agreed to a contract buyout, and he joined the Milwaukee Bucks.
Memphis then moved up in the first round of the draft to select Washington State wing Cedric Coward. He'll join a Grizzlies rotation that could improve defensively from last season, when Pippen often had to guard the top offensive player on the opposing team.
"Getting more defensive guys, I feel like it takes a little stress off me," Pippen said. "I probably don't have to guard guys way taller than me. If I have to, I can."
General manager Zach Kleiman also removed the interim tag from Tuomas Iisalo who replaced Taylor Jenkins after the Grizzlies made the decision to fire their coach near the end of the regular season.
"I feel like last year he kind of got thrown into a little bit of a difficult situation with the scheduling," Pippen said. "Also, when he took over the team he wasn't really able to implement his offense and his schemes as much because we already had been taught so much to that point. So I'm looking forward to seeing Tuomas with a full summer and a full preseason, training camp and just seeing his system play out."
There's still plenty of time for Iisalo to implement his system before the season starts in October. There will be more new faces, too — Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack were picked in the second round of the draft, while the Grizzlies also signed guard Ty Jerome and center Jock Landale. Luke Kennard left in free agency, while Jay Huff was traded to the Indiana Pacers.
In full, that means there's going to be plenty of offense to replace. But Pippen said he's not worried.
"Some of us just got to step up and make more shots," he said. "Obviously losing those two guys hurt, but there's more room for everyone else to step up. And that's what I've been doing. Working on my game, working on me being a playmaker as well as a creator. Because I know that Desmond Bane is gone. I know that I believe I can step into that kind of role."
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.