Jaylen Wells is having surgery that's likely to end his season. So: How did it go?
The Memphis Grizzlies have nothing left to play for.
This has been the case for a while. The 2025-26 season is a loss — injuries piled up, the situation around the team's star player grew complicated, and at some point tanking became the only rational strategy.
So when it was announced that Jaylen Wells was expected to miss the rest of the season, the news was met with a collective shrug. Grizzlies fans love Wells, but at this point, they'd probably rather he rest than risk aggravating his injury.
Still, the season he put together before the shutdown is worth revisiting.
The term "3-and-D" gets thrown around too loosely in NBA circles. Any wing with limited on-ball creation tends to get the label, even when the shooting or defending doesn't hold up under scrutiny.
Wells is pretty close to the real thing, though.
In 69 games this season, he averaged 12.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 43.1% shooting in 26.4 minutes per game. The shooting remains the one lingering question mark. He finished 2025-26 at 35.3% from three on 5.3 attempts per game — nearly identical to the 35.2% on 5.0 attempts he shot the prior year. That consistency at least makes him a credible rotation option, but bumping that number into the 37-39% range would remove any remaining doubt about his fit as a starter.
The defense needs no such caveat. Wells averaged 0.9 steals per game and is heady and engaged on that end, the kind of defender coaches can deploy in a variety of matchups without hesitation.
He's not a primary shot creator, but he can knock down difficult jumpers and makes the extra pass when the situation calls for it. His ceiling is probably a quality role player — maybe a starter on the right team.
Durability hasn't been an issue, either. He appeared in 69 games this season, well above award eligibility thresholds, though none of that matters in a lost year.
Wells profiles as a dependable long-term rotation piece, and a case can be made he's starting-caliber. Whether he keeps that role in Memphis comes down largely to his shooting. The Grizzlies will keep adding pieces, and Wells will need to hold his ground when the rebuild reaches its next phase.
Grade: B+