The Updated Depth Chart for the Memphis Grizzlies Following the Desmond Bane Trade

The article “New Depth Chart for the Memphis Grizzlies Following Desmond Bane Trade” first ran on Fadeaway World.
Desmond Bane’s trade to the Orlando Magic has caused the Memphis Grizzlies to reevaluate their rotation.

More transactions involving the Grizzlies are probable this offseason, which would effectively signify a roster overhaul.

But at this time, Memphis has gotten some good draught picks and some seasoned guards.
The Grizzlies traded for Desmond Bane, a promising young player who might become an explosive offensive threat alongside Ja Morant, to the Magic.

The Grizzlies got a pick swap for draft capital and four unprotected first-round picks in exchange.

The Grizzlies added veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and rookie Cole Anthony to their collection of draft picks.

Last season, Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.7 points while shooting 43.9% from the field and 34.2% from beyond the arc, which is not exactly impressive.

At the same time, Anthony’s statistics have taken a nosedive due to his steadily declining playing time over the previous several seasons.
Even if his 9.4 ppg is below average for a player of his skill level, he is still young (25 years old) and has plenty of time to develop. Looking at the Grizzlies’ possible depth chart for the 2025-26 season, we can see that the new arrivals are indicating alterations to the rotations.

Starting Lineup:

Ja Morant, Kentavious-Caldwell Pope, Jaylen Wells, Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey

There is a very real chance that this may not be the final rotation for the Memphis Grizzlies. The likelihood of Santi Aldama slipping into the small forward position ahead of Jaylen Wells appears to be a possibility, owing to his versatility in the position.

Because of all the players the Grizzlies will be losing to free agency this summer, you should expect to see a lot of lineup changes. With a few teams showing interest in him due to trade speculations, Aldama is at the top of this list of players. The replacement of Bane with Caldwell-Pope at starting shooting guard is obvious.
Because of his experience and versatility, he can contribute significantly on defense and can shoot well from beyond the arc. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey are still a good combination in the frontcourt. When combined with Edey’s commanding presence on the inside, Jackson Jr.’s nimbleness and shooting ability as a big man create an intimidating duo.
Memphis would be wise to hold on to this dynamic because Morant and Edey have been so productive on the court together.

The Bench

Cole Anthony, Scotty Pippen Jr., Yuki Kawamura, Luke Kennard, Vince Williams Jr., John Konchar, Zyon Pullin (Two-Way), Lamar Stevens, GG Jackson, Santi Aldama, Marvin Bagley III, Brandon Clarke, Jay Huff

The bench rotation for the Grizzlies may be a little bit of a challenge to understand, given the potential players leaving in free agency. For the point guard position, Cole Anthony appears to be a solid first choice off the bench in the scheme of things.

But Scotty Pippen Jr. also displayed a lot of potential as the reserve point guard last season. Pippen Jr.’s averages of 9.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists were quite impressive when considering the additional work he was putting in on the defensive end.

In the shooting guard position, Luke Kennardhas been an effective presence for the Grizzlies.
His averages of 8.9 points of 43.3% from beyond the arc made him lethal on the floor. But because he is a free agent, there is a likelihood that Vince Williams Jr. may step into his place.

The 24-year-old averaged only 6.6 points last season while shooting 40.1% from the field and 27.6% from beyond the arc. Given that he only played in 27 games, there is a lot of room for growth.

In the small forward position, Jaylen Wells is likely to be the first choice off the bench, along with GG Jackson.
Wells averaged 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds on 42.5% shooting from the field and 35.2% shooting from beyond the arc, a solid display for his rookie season.