GMs predict a Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.-led comeback season

The Memphis Grizzlies' year of redemption began Monday night with a 121-116 victory over the reigning Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks.

Among the offseason storylines circling the franchise were questions concerning the team's immediate future, with many asking if it could recapture its winning direction.

The 2023-24 campaign was viewed as a throwaway for Grizzlies fans. The roster was engulfed with injuries virtually from top to bottom. With stars and key rotational pieces watching from the sidelines, the only thing going for the franchise was looking ahead to a productive offseason.

Getting back on track

The franchise gained momentum over the summer, headlined by its decision to draft heralded big man Zach Edey as the No. 9 overall pick in June's NBA Draft.

Memphis also snatched a pair of sharpshooters in Jalen Wells and Cam Spencer. In free agency, the team retained Luke Kennard, a premier 3-point sniper.

While the offseason's mission was to allow players to regain full strength and return healthy for the 2024 season, these moves helped round out a solid last few months for the franchise. Now, all indicators point to a promising season and one loaded with expectations.

NBA General Managers expect comeback season

These expectations are especially noted when considering a recent survey of the league's general managers. The NBA conducts an overview of teams and players before the start of each season by polling executives on a range of categories, from who will win the league MVP and NBA Finals to the best players at each position.

When asked which team would improve the most in 2024–25, the GMs awarded the Grizzlies a whopping 67% of the votes. The San Antonio Spurs earned the second spot, garnering 13%, while the Philadelphia 76ers were third with 7%.

Although the Grizzlies don't have a high bar to climb from sub-30 wins a season ago, a meaningful postseason run is the expectation for the 2024-25 campaign.

Memphis welcomes back its star Big Three, Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr., who led the franchise to 107 wins over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Throw in the return of perennial All-Defensive guard Marcus Smart and a debut campaign for three highly talented rookies, and the results of the 2024-25 season should be as close to the NBA Finals as the 2023-24 season was to the draft lottery.

Related: Ranking the best seasons in Grizzlies franchise history