Grizzlies Need to Make a Decision on GG Jackson II

The Memphis Grizzlies have tremendous forward depth, and that could become a problem for GG Jackson II.

Jackson occupies a strange spot on this team. After Cameron Boozer, one could make a strong argument that Jackson has the highest upside of anyone in the rotation.

At the same time, inconsistency and some troubling habits have kept him from locking down a starting role.

So what is the solution?

It's hard to blame Memphis for the current setup.

Boozer is the obvious starter at the 4. As of now, Jaylen Wells is the presumptive starter at the 3.

Wells does not have Jackson's offensive upside, but he is a better defender and a lower-usage player. It would be fair to say that while Jackson has the higher ceiling, Wells has the higher floor.

Then there is Jerami Grant.

The Grizzlies' acquisition of the veteran forward complicates matters even more. Even though Memphis is rebuilding, it probably isn't going to simply bench Grant from the start.

That would make little sense from an asset-management standpoint, and with the NBA's flattened lottery odds, there is not much incentive to force a tanking strategy anyway.

Still, it would feel shortsighted for Memphis to prioritize Grant over Jackson for the entire season.

There are only so many minutes available.

That brings the issue back to the same question: Where does Jackson fit?

The answer may require a longer view.

Early in the season, it could be difficult to find a large role for Jackson. There may be no way around that.

The more realistic solution is to gradually increase his usage as the season progresses.

If Memphis can move Grant by the trade deadline, that would probably be the cleanest outcome. Grant has already been identified as a possible trade candidate as the Grizzlies build around Boozer.

It may not be easy. Grant remains a productive veteran, but his contract could limit the market. He has also been labeled one of the league's more expensive forwards relative to his current production.

Still, moving him would immediately open minutes for Jackson and other young players.

If Grant stays, benching him in favor of Jackson becomes easier to justify later in the season.

Once Memphis has a clearer picture of where it stands, prioritizing development would not raise the same questions it might in October or November.

Unless, of course, the Grizzlies are in the playoff race.

If Memphis looks significantly ahead of schedule, the organization could decide that veterans such as Grant deserve to keep their roles.

In that scenario, trading Jackson might become the more realistic option.

That still feels like the less likely outcome.

The bigger issue is that the current arrangement does not feel sustainable for an entire season.

Jackson has too much upside to spend another year without a defined developmental path.

By the end of the season, Memphis needs to either give him a real runway to see what he can become or move him somewhere that will.

If the Grizzlies do decide to trade him, they have more than enough forward depth to absorb the loss.