Memphis Grizzlies
Breakout candidate: Ziaire Williams
For a team as talented as the Memphis Grizzlies are, with a strong core in place, it’s hard to pinpoint one player that will break out. Heading into the start of the season, the Grizzlies have four core players – Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Marcus Smart. But if the Grizzlies are going to take another step forward this season, you’d have to imagine that another non-core four-player is going to have to step up in a big way. One of those potential candidates for a breakout season is Ziaire Williams.
Williams is a former top-10 draft pick and is entering year three in the NBA. If he’s going to have his moment, this might be the year. He struggled all of last season and took somewhat of a step back compared to his rookie season. But with the departure of Dillon Brooks this summer, there’s a real spot that Williams could theoretically fill.
The big question is whether Williams is at a point where he can be consistent and productive enough to win that fifth starting spot, or at the very least play prominent minutes this season. We shall see if this is the year it all comes together for him.