Grizzlies Have 1 Major Long-Term Question at Point Guard

The Memphis Grizzlies 2026-27 rotation looks fairly set, but big questions remain at point guard.

Confession: This idea was fueled by D'Angelo Russell's recent release. No, he was never going to start for the Grizzlies. It was never even likely that Russell would be in the rotation. Still, the news got me wondering:

How will the point guard rotation look in 2026-27, and even beyond?

For now, it's nearly certain that Ty Jerome will begin the season with the starting job.

He deserves it. Jerome is the best point guard on this roster by far. After averaging 19.7 points and 5.7 assists while shooting 42.0% from three, Jerome has earned the opportunity to prove what he can do when he's healthy.

Still, there's a tension here. The Grizzlies are rebuilding. They'll presumably be starting 19-year-old Cameron Boozer, 23-year-old Cedric Coward, and 24-year-old Zach Edey. They may go with 32-year-old wing Jerami Grant at the 3, but that's a clear placeholder situation with Taylor Hendricks, GG Jackson II, Olivier Maxence-Prosper, Jaylen Wells, and Karim Lopez on the roster.

By contrast, it isn't clear who, if anyone on the roster, would replace Jerome. The only viable candidate as of now is Scotty Pippen Jr.

Is he the Grizzlies' long-term point guard solution?

Time will tell.

It should be noted that Pippen Jr. is 25. That's still relatively young, but he's approaching an age where expected improvement is minimal.

As it stands, Pippen Jr. is a fine player. He's a heady passer, fairly reliable shooter, and strong defender. He's not a star playmaker, but if Boozer reaches his potential as a hub, that's not ultimately a major problem:

Unless the Grizzlies can do better.

This is not a problem that needs to be solved immediately. The Grizzlies should not rush to find a young point guard. Instead, they should be scouting well ahead of the 2027 NBA Draft.

There's no shortage of intriguing options. Baskonia's Stefan Joksimovic is a 6'7" playmaker and ball-handler. Arkansas' Jordan Smith Jr. could be described similarly to Pippen Jr., only he's years younger and has more offensive upside. Dylan Mingo's jump shot is a question mark, but at 6'6" with his athleticism, it could be a moot point — although it makes him a questionable fit with Boozer.

The broader point is that there will be point guards available. Memphis should not be panicking about this, but they need to think about it. In time, they'll need to secure their point guard of the future if it isn't Jerome or Pippen Jr.

Otherwise, they seem to know what they're doing.