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NBC Sports
12-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Memphis Grizzlies 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: Two ROY candidates offer hope for the future
While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams. In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June. Today, we're doing a deep dive on a team that overachieved to start the season and finished on a sour note to close it out. Memphis Grizzlies 2024-2025 Season Recap Record: 48-34 (8th, West) Offensive Rating: 117.2 (6th) Defensive Rating: 112.6 (11th) Net Rating: 4.7 (6th) Pace: 103.69 (1st) 2025 NBA Draft Picks: 48th pick, 56th pick After limping to a 27-55 finish in 2023-24 due to numerous injuries across the board, the Grizzlies roared back with a mostly healthy roster and hung around behind OKC as the second seed in the West for quite a while. Eventually Memphis was overtaken in the standings and fell into the Play-In tournament in a crowded and competitive Western Conference. The Grizz made it to the postseason as the No. 8 seed and ran into a buzzsaw in the 68-win Thunder who promptly swept them. Memphis fired head coach Taylor Jenkins shortly before the playoffs and hired Tuomas Iisalo as the new head coach after a brief stint as the interim coach. Heading into the 2025-26 campaign, Memphis' biggest question is how far can Ja Morant take this team? The Grizzlies have a promising young core of Desmond Bane, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaren Jackson Jr., but is Morant the superstar and leader who can take them over the top, or is his - and the team's - ceiling limited? Let's recap last season's fantasy performances and look ahead to 2025-26. Fantasy Standout: Desmond Bane Bane was Memphis' top-ranked fantasy option on a per-game basis, finishing 34th behind averages of 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.4 blocks and 2.4 triples. The sharpshooting wing shot 48.4% from the field, 89.4% from the charity stripe and 39.2% from beyond the arc, pushing for a 50/40/90 campaign. Though Bane's points were his fewest in three seasons, his FG% was the most efficient mark of his career, and he still pushed for 20 points despite attempting only 14.8 shots. Of those shot attempts, only 6.1 were triples, marking Bane's lowest mark since his rookie season. Though his scoring and triples were down, Bane set new career highs in rebounds and steals and nearly averaged 20/5/5 thanks to his strong contributions as a rebounder and facilitator. Those skills were on full display in a game against the Hawks on March 3 in which he racked up his first triple-double - a 35/10/10 masterclass. Heading into his sixth season, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for Bane's fantasy outlook. He appeared in 69 games in 2024-25 after logging just 100 combined across the last two. He's taking steps forward as a do-it-all contributor and not just a three-point specialist, keeping him in the mid-round conversation for the foreseeable future. Fantasy Revelation: Scotty Pippen Jr. SPJ finished outside the top 150 in per-game fantasy value, but that was in large part due to his limited playing time throughout the season. Pippen Jr. averaged 9.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 triples across just 21.3 minutes per game. He logged 79 appearances after playing 27 games combined across his first two campaigns, joining in as a regular part of Memphis' rotation. In 23 regular season starts, SPJ averaged 13.9 points, 4.4 boards, 5.5 dimes, 1.6 steals and 1.7 triples, showing off his versatility and productivity when given extra opportunities. Pippen Jr. started each of Memphis' four playoff games, and he came through with two stellar performances to cap off the season. Ja Morant suffered a hip contusion in Game 3 and sat out Game 4, opening the door to SPJ for a pair of monster performances. Pippen Jr. went for 28/5/5 in Game 3, matching his career high in the scoring department, before dropping a 30/11/4 line in Game 4 to set a new career best in scoring while recording his first playoff double-double. SPJ recorded his first career triple-double on November 8 when he posted an 11/10/11 line against the Wizards. Heading into Year 4, the future is bright for Pippen Jr., particularly if he can earn some additional playing time. He can stuff the stat sheet with the best of them. Fantasy Disappointment: Ja Morant Morant logged only nine games a season ago due to a combination of suspension and injury. Injuries hampered him again in 2024-25, and he was limited to just 50 games. Memphis' superstar point guard averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.8 triples and 3.7 turnovers while shooting 45.4% from the field, 82.4% from the charity stripe and 30.9% from beyond the arc. His points, rebounds and FGA marked four-year lows, and the assists were his lowest in three years and second-lowest mark of his career. Morant racked up 13 double-doubles and posted a 26/10/14 triple-double on Halloween against the Bucks. His best scoring performance came on March 14 when he tallied 44 points against the Cavs. Morant had some memorable moments, but most weren't related to his on-court play. Instead, Morant made headlines for his unorthodox in-game celebrations and 32 missed games. He finished 94th in per-game fantasy value, despite an ADP of 27.1 (per Hashtag Basketball), and Morant's season can be considered a disappointment for his low finish and his limited playing time. After multiple seasons of significant missed time due to injury and a decline in production, it's fair to wonder if Morant's best days are behind him. His ADP surely won't carry a third-round price tag in 2025-26 drafts with those concerns in mind. Jaren Jackson Jr.: JJJ was excellent yet again, averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 boards, 2.0 dimes, 1.2 steals, 1.5 blocks and 2.0 triples across 74 appearances. Jackson Jr. battled availability concerns with just 126 games played across his first three seasons, but he's played in 78, 63, 66 and 74 games across his last four, respectively. Jackson Jr. has now scored at least 22 points per game in consecutive seasons, and he continues to impress with his ability to stuff the stat sheet across nearly every category. He compiled six double-doubles in 2024-25, grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds on March 31 against Boston to go with 20 points. He erupted for 42 points against the Spurs on March 1, finishing with a 42/4/2/2/2 line with five triples, truly showcasing his multi-category excellence. A big who can score, block shots and hit triples is a cheat code in the world of fantasy hoops, and JJJ is surely that. With availability concerns behind him, he's an easy early-round selection in 2025-26 fantasy drafts. Santi Aldama: Aldama enjoyed a number of career highs as he averaged 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks and 1.8 triples. He shot 48.3% from the floor, 69.1% from the charity stripe and 36.8% from beyond the arc while committing just 1.1 turnovers across 25.5 minutes. The big man logged 65 games, including 17 starts. He finished with a career-best 29 points on January 17 against San Antonio, a career-high 17 boards against Portland on November 25 and a career-best 11 dimes on March 1 against San Antonio. Aldama finished just inside the top 120 in per-game fantasy hoops value, but this was in large part due to his low turnovers, relatively-high FG% and respectable three-pointers. He wasn't overly helpful in any one category. With Zach Edey ready to take the next step and a number of other promising young players in need of minutes, Aldama is best viewed as an option in deeper fantasy leagues in 2025-26 or a late-round dart throw in standard leagues. Zach Edey: As expected, Edey finished as fantasy's top rookie behind averages of 9.2 points, 8.3 boards, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.3 swats and 1.3 turnovers. The big man out of Purdue shot 58% from the floor and 34.6% from beyond the arc (0.3 made triples per game), knocking down a respectable 70.9% of his shots from the free throw line. Edey appeared in 66 games and started 61 of them, averaging 21.5 minutes per game. On a per-minute basis, he put up big numbers, and he finished with multiple Grizzlies records. Edey grabbed 21 rebounds on April 5 against the Pistons and 19 on April 8 against the Hornets, good for the most and second-most single-game totals by a Grizzlies rookie all time. Edey's seven blocks against the Thunder in Game 4 of the first round are the most by a Memphis rookie in a playoff game. Heading into next season, Edey has a ton of room to grow, especially if he can make strides on offense. If he's allotted more playing time, he could be a 10/10 guy with two blocks a night, which would put him in the top 100 conversation. After finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting, the sky's the limit for Edey. Brandon Clarke: Clarke suffered an Achilles injury at the end of the 2022-23 season and logged just six games last season. He returned to play 64 games in 2024-25, but he was limited to just 18.9 minutes per tilt and just 20.6 minutes across 18 starts. Clarke's production was muted, as he averaged just 8.3 points and 5.1 boards. Heading into his sixth season, Clarke can be viewed as a frontcourt depth option with limited upside due to the players ahead of him on the depth chart and his recent injury history. Luke Kennard: The veteran finished outside the top 200 in per-game fantasy value with averages of 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 triples. Kennard's 47.8/89.5/43.3 shooting splits were efficient, but his counting stats weren't plentiful enough to make him fantasy relevant. The veteran sharpshooter appeared in 65 games and started 11 of them, offering floor-spacing and microwave scoring off the bench. Kennard is set to hit the open market this offseason, and the career 43.3% shooter from long range is sure to attract attention from contenders. He'll most likely be a better on-court than fantasy option for whatever team signs him. Jaylen Wells: The second-round pick out of Washington State didn't come into the NBA with much fanfare, but he certainly made a name for himself by finishing third in ROY voting. Wells wasn't an impactful fantasy option (262nd on a per-game basis), but he was an integral part of Memphis' rotation throughout the season. Wells averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks, 1.7 triples and 0.9 turnovers. He shot 42.5% from the field, 82.2% from the charity stripe and 35.2% from beyond the arc. The rookie appeared in 79 games and started 74 of them, averaging 25.9 minutes. He missed the final three games of the regular season and all four games of the playoffs due to a fractured right wrist and concussion, but he's expected to be fully healthy to start his second season. If Wells can take a step forward in Year 2, he can become a productive fantasy option in deeper leagues. For now, he's best left undrafted in standard leagues and drafted as a late-round option in deeper formats. Restricted Free Agents: Yuki Kawamura, Cam Spencer, Santi Aldama Unrestricted Free Agents: Lamar Stevens, Marvin Bagley III, Luke Kennard Club Option: None Player Option: None
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers predicted to sign $197,230,450 Memphis Grizzlies star to bolster squad around LeBron James and Luka Doncic
LeBron James and Luka Doncic (Image via Getty) After a disappointing first-round playoff exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers face tough decisions this offseason. The front office may explore trades to strengthen the roster around Luka Doncic and LeBron James . One potential move? A blockbuster swap sending Reaves to Memphis for sharpshooting guard Desmond Bane . Why the Los Angeles Lakers Should Consider Trading Austin Reaves The Los Angeles Lakers ' backcourt needs an upgrade, especially in scoring efficiency and defense. Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Tensions Live Updates: India hits back after Pakistan violates ceasefire; Nagrota sentry hurt in brief gunfire Operation Sindoor Live Updates: Drones shot down at multiple places in J&K as Pakistan violates bilateral understanding Pak drones enter Indian airspace, explosions heard just hours after truce deal While Reaves is a solid playmaker, his role diminishes alongside two elite facilitators like Doncic and James. Key reasons to trade Reaves (according NBA analyst Dean Simon): by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo - Redundant Playmaking: With Doncic and James handling most playmaking duties, Reaves' skills aren't fully utilized. - Defensive Limitations: Reaves struggles against elite guards, while Bane has shown defensive growth. - Need for Reliable Shooting: Desmond Bane's elite three-point shooting (39.2% career) fits better alongside two ball-dominant stars. As Dean Simon of the Sporting News notes in the original article: "Instead of trotting out another floor general that takes pick-and-roll possessions out of Doncic and James' hands, you replace that with a reactionary scorer that can knock down catch-and-shoot threes." Why Desmond Bane is the Perfect Fit LeBron James and Luka Doncic (Image via Getty Images) Desmond Bane, who signed a $197 million extension with Memphis, has developed into one of the league's most efficient scorers. His 2024-25 stats showcase his all-around growth: Stat 2024-25 Performance Points per game 19.2 Rebounds per game 6.1 Assists per game 5.3 True Shooting % 60.0% Steals per game 1.2 (career-high) Beyond scoring, Desmond Bane's improved playmaking (5.3 assists per game) and defense (113 defensive rating) make him an ideal third option. His ability to play off-ball and stretch the floor would give Doncic and James more spacing. Proposed Trade Package For this deal to work, the Los Angeles Lakers would likely need to include additional assets: Lakers Receive: - Desmond Bane Grizzlies Receive: - Austin Reaves - Rui Hachimura - Shake Milton This trade gives Memphis a younger core piece in Reaves, while the Lakers get a proven scorer who fits their timeline. How Bane Elevates the Lakers' Title Chances Adding Bane would address multiple weaknesses (according to Dean Simon): - Elite Three-Point Shooting: Provides much-needed spacing for Doncic and James. - Secondary Playmaking: Can initiate offense when needed. - Defensive Upgrade: His size (6'5') and improved steals (1.2 per game) help against elite guards. With Bane, the Lakers could realistically compete in a stacked Western Conference. His ability to score efficiently without dominating the ball makes him an ideal fit alongside two superstars. Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers could re-sign $18,001,011 Charlotte Hornets center, fixing Luka Doncic's biggest weakness after playoff disaster If the Los Angeles Lakers want to maximize their championship window, trading Reaves for Bane is a move worth exploring. Memphis gets a promising young guard, while Los Angeles adds a polished scorer who complements their stars perfectly. As the offseason unfolds, this could be the deal that reshapes the Lakers' future.
Fox Sports
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Grizzlies vs. Thunder Game 4 preview
Data Skrive The Memphis Grizzlies will meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. Memphis and Oklahoma City are in a matchup Saturday with no line set. Take a look at everything you need to know to know about the Grizzlies-Thunder game, from the point spread, moneyline, total Over/Under and expert picks, as well as TV channel and streaming information. Grizzlies vs. Thunder Game Information and TV Channel When: Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. ET Where: FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee TV: TNT, FDSSE, and FDSOK Grizzlies vs. Thunder Prediction ATS Pick: Thunder (+ ) O/U Pick: Under () Score Prediction: Thunder 121 - Grizzlies 112 The Grizzlies have gone 4-6 over their past 10 games, with a 3-7 record against the spread during that span. In the Grizzlies' 82 games this season, they have 41 wins against the spread. Grizzlies games this year have gone over the total in 46 out of 82 opportunities (56.1%). The Grizzlies score 14.1 more points per game (121.7) than the Thunder give up (107.6). When Memphis totals more than 107.6 points, it is 40-31 against the spread and 45-26 overall. The Grizzlies make 47.9% of their shots from the field this season, which is 4.3 percentage points higher than the Thunder have allowed to their opponents (43.6%). The Grizzlies have done a better job covering the spread when playing on the road (21-20-0) than they have at home (20-21-0). When playing at home, Memphis eclipses the over/under 51.2% of the time (21 of 41 games). It hits the over more often on the road, topping the total in 61% of games (25 of 41). The Grizzlies have played worse as a moneyline favorite in home games, posting a home record of 23-9, compared to going 16-4 in away games. Stat Average Rank Points Scored 121.7 2 Points Allowed 116.9 24 Rebounds 47.3 2 Assists 28.4 8 Steals 8.9 6 Blocks 5.6 3 Jaren Jackson Jr. puts up 22.2 points, 2 assists and 5.6 boards per game. Desmond Bane averages 19.2 points, 5.3 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game. Ja Morant averages 23.2 points, 4.1 boards and 7.3 assists per contest, shooting 45.4% from the field and 30.9% from downtown with 1.8 made treys per contest. Scotty Pippen Jr. posts 9.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, shooting 48% from the floor and 39.7% from downtown with 1.1 made 3-pointers per game. Santi Aldama puts up 12.5 points, 6.4 boards and 2.9 assists per game, shooting 48.3% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc with 1.8 made treys per contest. The Thunder have gone 8-2 over their past 10 contests, with an 8-2 record against the spread during that span. Against the spread, the Thunder are 53-25-4 this year. Thunder games this season have hit the over 54.9% of the time (45 out of 82 games with a set point total). The Thunder average only 3.6 more points per game (120.5) than the Grizzlies give up to opponents (116.9). When it scores more than 116.9 points, Oklahoma City is 38-12-1 against the spread and 46-5 overall. The Thunder are shooting 48.2% from the field, 2.6% higher than the 45.6% the Grizzlies' opponents have shot this season. This season, the Thunder are 28-11-3 at home against the spread (.667 winning percentage). Away, they are 25-14-1 ATS (.625). Looking at the over/under, Oklahoma City's games have finished over more frequently at home (25 of 42, 59.5%) than on the road (20 of 40, 50%). The Thunder, as moneyline favorites, have won a higher percentage of games at home (35-6) than on the road (30-7) this year. Stat Average Rank Points Scored 120.5 4 Points Allowed 107.6 3 Rebounds 44.8 11 Assists 26.9 12 Steals 10.3 1 Blocks 5.7 2 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander generates 32.7 points, 5 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game for the Thunder. Jalen Williams is averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He's draining 48.4% of his shots from the field and 36.5% from beyond the arc, with 1.8 treys per contest. Isaiah Hartenstein is putting up 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He is making 58.1% of his shots from the floor. The Thunder are receiving 12 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game from Aaron Wiggins this year. Luguentz Dort gets the Thunder 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest while putting up 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocked shots. FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Basketball Association Memphis Grizzlies Oklahoma City Thunder recommended
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What a shot by Santi Aldama
Mavericks vs Grizzlies Game Highlights The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 120-106. Memphis Grizzlies Top Performers Jaren Jackson Jr. – 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 3PM Desmond Bane – 22 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 3 3PM Dallas Mavericks Top Performers Anthony Davis – 40 points, 9 rebounds, 2 3PM Klay Thompson – 18 points, 4 3PM With the victory, the Memphis Grizzlies advance as the #8 seed in the Western Conference and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, April 20th, while the Dallas Mavericks have been eliminated from making the postseason with the loss. 1:22 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Fox Sports
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Grizzlies vs. Thunder Game 3 preview
Data Skrive In Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies will meet the Oklahoma City Thunder. Thursday's matchup has no line set between the Grizzlies and the Thunder. Check out everything you need to know to know about the Grizzlies-Thunder game, from the point spread, moneyline, total Over/Under and expert picks, as well as TV channel and streaming information. Grizzlies vs. Thunder Game Information and TV Channel When: Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 9:30 p.m. ET Where: FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee TV: TNT, FDSSE, and FDSOK Grizzlies vs. Thunder Prediction ATS Pick: Thunder (+ ) O/U Pick: Under () Score Prediction: Thunder 121 - Grizzlies 112 The Grizzlies have gone 4-6 in their last 10 contests, with a 3-7 record against the spread during that span. The Grizzlies have played 82 games, with 41 wins against the spread. Grizzlies games this year have hit the over on 46 of 82 set point totals. The Grizzlies put up 14.1 more points per game (121.7) than the Thunder allow (107.6). Memphis is 40-31 against the spread and 45-26 overall when scoring more than 107.6 points. The Grizzlies are shooting 47.9% from the field this season, 4.3 percentage points higher than the 43.6% the Thunder allow to opponents. The Grizzlies have done a better job covering the spread when playing on the road (21-20-0) than they have at home (20-21-0). Memphis has hit the over on the total in 21 of 41 home games (51.2%). It has fared better in road games, topping the total in 25 of 41 matchups (61%). The Grizzlies have performed worse as a moneyline favorite when playing at home, sporting a home record of 23-9, compared to going 16-4 in away games. Stat Average Rank Points Scored 121.7 2 Points Allowed 116.9 24 Rebounds 47.3 2 Assists 28.4 8 Steals 8.9 6 Blocks 5.6 3 Jaren Jackson Jr. posts 22.2 points, 2.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game. Desmond Bane posts 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists per contest, shooting 48.4% from the field and 39.2% from downtown with 2.4 made treys per contest. Ja Morant puts up 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds per contest. Scotty Pippen Jr. averages 9.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per contest, shooting 48.0% from the floor and 39.7% from beyond the arc with 1.1 made treys per game. Santi Aldama averages 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, shooting 48.3% from the floor and 36.8% from downtown with 1.8 made treys per contest. The Thunder are 8-2 against the spread and 8-2 overall in their last 10 contests. The Thunder have 53 wins against the spread in 82 games this season. Thunder games this year have hit the over on 45 of 82 set point totals (54.9%). The Thunder score an average of 120.5 points per game, just 3.6 more points than the 116.9 the Grizzlies give up. Oklahoma City has put together a 38-12-1 ATS record and a 46-5 overall record in games it scores more than 116.9 points. The Thunder's 48.2% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.6 percentage points higher than the Grizzlies have given up to their opponents (45.6%). The Thunder's winning percentage against the spread at home is .667 (28-11-3). Away, it is .625 (25-14-1). In 2024-25, a higher percentage of Oklahoma City's games have finished above the over/under at home (59.5%, 25 of 42) than away (50%, 20 of 40). The Thunder's winning percentage at home when moneyline favorites is .854 (35-6), and on the road it is .811 (30-7). Stat Average Rank Points Scored 120.5 4 Points Allowed 107.6 3 Rebounds 44.8 11 Assists 26.9 12 Steals 10.3 1 Blocks 5.7 2 On a per-game basis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets the Thunder 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists. He also averages 1.7 steals (fourth in NBA) and 1.0 block. On a per-game basis, Jalen Williams gives the Thunder 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists. He also averages 1.6 steals (seventh in league) and 0.7 blocked shots. Isaiah Hartenstein is averaging 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He is making 58.1% of his shots from the field. The Thunder are receiving 12.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game from Aaron Wiggins this year. The Thunder are getting 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game from Luguentz Dort this season. FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Basketball Association Memphis Grizzlies Oklahoma City Thunder recommended
