The Grizzlies’ fascinating offseason progress is continuing along numerous lines as they move from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League.
The Grizzlies are currently in the midst of summer school, and there have been three notable developments: coach Tuomas Iisalo’s hands-on approach to applying his system and the efforts to fill probable voids in next season’s rotation.
Coward’s Next Steps
Grizzlies’ lottery pick Cedric Coward hasn’t been with the team for the initial stages of Summer League as he progresses through the final stages of rehab from shoulder surgery that limited him to just six games at Washington State last season.
Coward took a significant step with the franchise Tuesday when he officially signed his rookie-scale contract that ties him to the Grizzlies for at least the next four seasons.
The 6-foot-6 swingman remained in Memphis to work with trainers and the medical staff as he eventually ramps up to full scrimmage basketball work.
He is considered doubtful to play in summer league, which resumes Friday in Las Vegas when the Grizzlies face Boston.
Coward’s stock rose rapidly during the pre-draft process despite being limited in team workouts over the past few months.
His measurements at the NBA Draft Combine in May – a 7-foot-2 wingspan and an 8-foot-10 standing reach – impressed suitors.
The Grizzlies were the last team Coward visited and worked out for prior to being selected No. 11 overall in last month’s draft.
Barring a setback, Coward should be a full go when the Grizzlies open October training camp. Grizzlies’ president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman also confirmed Coward is “nearing the end” of the rehab program.
“The biggest challenge is to have that competitive spirit and not always have the chance to show it in the stuff I’ve been doing,” Coward told Grind City Media about his methodical return to play process.
“But at the same time, when you’re training like this, you don’t get as many breaks. It’s definitely keeping me in shape. My agency and coaches have done a really good job preparing me for this. Ultimately, I’ve had that drive to really want to go against somebody. I’ve been itching to play since November 22 when I got hurt. But I’m getting closer and closer.”
Summer Vet Production
Even though Coward is expected to play a rotational role once camp begins, the Grizzlies will face stiff competition on the wing.
When the Grizzlies travel to Sin City, they’ll be hoping to continue the success of two important “summer veterans” who had a good first impression in Salt Lake City.
With an average of 23.5 points in his first two games back in Salt Lake City, rising third-year forward GG Jackson led the squad in scoring.
As he works to establish rapport and trust with Iisalo, 2023 second-round draft selection Jackson has a lot of distance to cover after missing nearly half of last season due to injuries and G-League assignments.
Playing in the summer league has forced Jackson to work on several aspects of his game, namely his defense.
After starting all 70 games for the Grizzlies last season, NBA All-Rookie First Team selection Jaylen Wells is showing that he is ready to go on to the next level in his career.
He has been a leader, a rebounder, a floor spacer, and a secondary playmaker, despite the fact that his shot was inconsistent in his first few games this summer.
Wells, who had the starting small forward position until suffering a season-ending broken wrist and concussion in early April, may be able to regain it with that progress.
Last season, Wells, who was chosen 39th overall in the NBA Rookie of the Year balloting, stated, “We have a new coach and a lot of new staff, so this is all about asserting yourself.”
She went on to finish third in the voting. What matters most is that I work on my game and return with confidence.
Iisalo’s Implementation
With the interim tag lifted and the full-time job firmly in his grasp, Iisalo now gets a chance to transition into the role without the weight of a coaching dismissal and a desperate playoff chase bearing down as they did last spring.
“I’ve had 15 games and two practices,” Iisalo often repeated when last season ended after he took over for Taylor Jenkins in late March.
Iisalo’s focus through the Salt Lake City and Vegas summer stints is to install his space and speed-based offensive concepts while also unveiling a high-pressure defense that attacks the full length of the court.
Working through the kinks amid roster turnover is a challenge, but the parameters and expectations are settling into place.
“One of our goals was to get more athletic and have positional length,” Iisalo said. “We have a little bit of a different direction.
We have youth, we have flexibility with the guys here, and I’m super-excited about that.
That’s one of the reasons I’m coaching summer league, too, is so we can use that as a test run or a ramp-up for the coaching staff and to invest in these young guys.”
Kleiman and Iisalo are still working to fill out the staff, but the primary assistants in Salt Lake City were Jason March and Erik Schmidt.
Both were holdovers alongside Iisalo from Jenkins’ staff. Former Tennessee State head coach Brian “Penny” Collins has also been with the Grizzlies in a developmental assistant role on the summer league bench.
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