Memphis

Grizzlies

Spencer spent five years playing collegiately. The first three were with Loyola (MD) before he spent one year at Rutgers. He joined UConn for a national championship run last season, where he averaged 14.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 triples while shooting 44% from beyond the arc. He was a consistent starter for the best team in college basketball, and at 24 years old, he should be able to make an impact in year one. He should be able to step in as a 3-and-D contributor immediately, and he isn’t going to have any issues with turnovers like other rookies tend to. He’s headed to the Memphis Grizzlies via trade. His perimeter shooting could be helpful to a squad that finished with the second-lowest three-point percentage last season and he has a chance to break into the rotation for a team that’s lacking quality guards off the pine.

Wells started the final 20 of his 34 games during his single season at Washington State, where he averaged 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.1 triples per game. He spent his first two collegiate seasons with D2 Sonoma State before transferring for his junior season. He hasn’t shown much defensively, but he was an effective shooter and shot creator for Washington State. He doesn’t have a complete game by any means, but his shooting upside is certainly intriguing. Luke Kennard has a team option this summer, so Wells can learn from Kennard this year and then potentially become a rotation piece in his second season. He may not develop much else, but he can fill an important role as a floor spacer.

Edey finished his Purdue career as one of the most accomplished players in college basketball history, as he was a two-time consensus All-American and two-time winner of the Wooden Award. In leading the Boilermakers to their second national title game appearance, he averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game, shooting 62.3% from the field and 71.1% from the foul line. While the 7-foot-3 Edey has solid touch for a big man, he wasn’t forced to show it off too often in games throughout his Purdue career. Edey will need to improve his footwork, especially defensively, as teams will look to involve him in the two-man game consistently. Edey brings sorely-needed size to a Memphis team that lost Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman last season, and he should see meaningful rotational minutes in Year 1.

LaRavia closed the season out with an incredible three-game stretch. He averaged 29.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steal and 5.0 triples in 41 minutes per game while shooting 54.9% from the field. He has seen extended minutes to close out the season, which has allowed him to prove that he deserves to be a rotation piece next season. However, when the team is fully healthy, it is unlikely that LaRavia plays enough to impact fantasy basketball. He should be a valuable piece in dynasty leagues, but he won’t produce to this level next season.

Jackson ended his rookie season with a bang as he set a new career-high for scoring. He stepped into the rotation early in January, but he really took off in March. Jackson was seen as a long-term project after being drafted in the middle of the second round in the draft. However, he has figured things out much quicker than expected. He should still be part of the Grizzlies’ rotation next season, though when they are fully healthy, he will come off the bench. That likely won’t be a role that results in him providing much fantasy value, but he still has a ton of upside and holds a ton of value in dynasty formats.

Pippen was injured during Friday’s loss to the Lakers, but he will be available for Sunday’s season finale. Due to the number of players Memphis will not have available, Pippen needs to be rostered in active leagues.

The continued absences of Kennard and Konchar mean more playing time for Scotty Pippen Jr., Jordan Goodwin, GG Jackson, and Jake LaRavia. All four should be slotted into lineups in active fantasy leagues for Memphis’ season finale. Looking to next season, Kennard and Konchar won’t be on many draft boards due to their limited production and the returns of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart. Kennard can potentially be a 3-point streamer, but that isn’t enough to merit being drafted in most leagues.

After sitting out Friday’s loss to the Lakers, Aldama, Clarke, and Stevens remain sidelined for Sunday’s season finale. While Aldama appeared in 61 games and finished ranked just outside the top 150 in 9-cat formats, Clarke did not make his season debut until March after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. With Memphis being hit hard by injuries, the values of Aldama, Clarke, and Stevens will be low heading into drafts in the fall. At best, they will be late-round options.

After grabbing a career-high 19 rebounds on Tuesday, Goodwin corralled 17 more on Friday. Add the steals, and he made up for a subpar night shooting the basketball. Goodwin and Scotty Pippen Jr. have been solid fantasy assets down the stretch, as the Grizzlies are playing out the string with a depleted roster. Pippen finished Friday’s defeat with 28 points, five rebounds, six assists, four steals, and three 3-pointers in 30 minutes. However, Pippen is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Nuggets with an eye injury. Goodwin’s value would be boosted if Pippen cannot play.

Two nights after scoring a career-high 32 points, LaRavia scored 28 more on Friday. He was efficient, shooting over 50% from the field, and his six assists were countered by just one turnover. LaRavia has played 34 minutes or more in three straight games, and that streak should reach four when the Grizzlies host the Nuggets on Sunday.