3 questions facing Grizzlies as summer league starts
Neither Ja Morant nor Jaren Jackson Jr. will be on the floor as the Grizzlies begin summer league play Monday night in Salt Lake City against the Jazz (8 p.m., ESPN2).
But a new coach will be patrolling the sidelines and overseeing a group of players looking to prove they belong in the NBA.
Here are the top three questions for the Grizzlies as they begin their summer league slate at Salt Lake City:
Taylor Jenkins assembling staff?
New Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins has not announced his staff yet. Could summer league be part of the interview process? Vitaly Potapenko and J.J. Outlaw – both holdovers from J.B. Bickerstaff's staff – will be assistants in Salt Lake City.
Jenkins has been interviewing potential staff members, and a source told the Commercial Appeal that holdovers from Bickerstaff's staff are part of the interview process.
Rounding out the Grizzlies' staff in Salt Lake City are: Memphis Hustle head coach Brad Jones, Hustle assistants Alex Lloyd and Brett Burman and Grizzlies data scientist Michael Noyes.
Jones could be another potential Grizzlies assistant. Jenkins worked under Jones from 2010-12 when Jones was coach of the San Antonio Spurs' Gleague affiliate.
During his introductory press conference, Jenkins called Jones "instrumental in my growth" and said Jones is "obviously someone that I will continue to keep close to me."
"We will obviously discuss the staff," Jenkins said. "Hopefully he has a place on there, and at the end of the day, we’ll do what’s best for everyone involved.”
Jones spent 2012-16 as an assistant for the Jazz.
Will Ivan Rabb shine?
Ivan Rabb is the only player with two years of NBA experience on the Grizzlies' roster in Salt Lake City.
The 6-foot-10 forward could be fighting for his NBA roster spot.
His $1.62 million salary for the 201920 season becomes fully guaranteed on July 15, but the Grizzlies will owe Rabb only $371,758 if he is waived before then.
With the team facing a roster crunch, a strong summer might be a necessity for Rabb, who was the 35th overall draft pick in 2017.
Rabb boasts a smooth interior skillset on offense and is a quality rebounder. But his relatively lanky frame and middling lateral quickness make him a defensive liability when he is matched up against true centers or athletic power forwards.
Did Grizzlies find a gem?
Most probably never have heard of Lyle Hexom or John Konchar. But they are on the Grizzlies' summer-league roster for a reason.
Konchar tore up the Summit League in four years at Purdue-fort Wayne before going undrafted and agreeing to a two-way contract with Memphis.
The 6-foot-5 guard will get the opportunity this week to prove that the all-around game he showed in college translates to a higher level of competition.
Hexom, meanwhile, will take the meteoric jump from Peru State of the NAIA to summer league play. The 6foot-8 forward made 42.9% of 259 3point attempts during his senior season.
He also dominated the paint offensively and ranked among the best shot-blockers in the NAIA.
But Hexom's combination of size and shooting range are the main reasons he is on a summer league roster.
Did the Grizzlies find a gem in Hexom or Konchar? This week bring an answer.
Reach Grizzlies beat writer David Cobb at david.cobb@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @Davidwcobb.