"It's going to be deadly": Marcus Smart talks Ja Morant-Zach Edey pick-and-roll potential and Grizzlies' defensive ceiling (Exclusive)
The Memphis Grizzlies are motivated to rebound from a disappointing 27-55 season that landed them the No. 9 overall pick in the NBA Draft. On Monday, they opened their preseason with a 121-116 victory over the shorthanded Dallas Mavericks.
The game marked Ja Morant's return to competition since January. However, he ultimately left the game early with an ankle injury, scoring 13 points before exiting again early in the third quarter. Jaren Jackson Jr. was sidelined as well. However, it served as a solid opportunity for Zach Edey to continue his adjustment to the NBA, finishing with six points, seven rebounds and one block.
Marcus Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year, remains a vital veteran presence for the Grizzlies. He expressed optimism about the team's defensive ceiling, particularly following the addition of 7-foot-4 center, Edey, who provides rim protection and a dynamic pick-and-roll option alongside Morant.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda at the Grizzlies' morning shootaround, Smart described the potential of that pairing as "deadly."
Marcus Smart interview (Exclusive)
Q: After a week in Nashville, how do you think the team is progressing, and what would you like to see in the preseason?
Marcus Smart: "Yeah, I think we're progressing very well. Everybody's healthy, everybody's getting back in the groove of things. You know, Ja with his shoulder, he's coming back, he's fully healthy. Me with my finger—this was the last place I played on Jan. 9, my last game with the finger—I'm healthy, Dez is back, BC is back.
"So, we had a great training camp, three days up there in Nashville, just working and getting back into it. ... We just want to go out there and give it everything we’ve got. We don’t have many plays yet, like everybody else, but it’s about effort right now."
Q: A new member of your team, Zach Edey, adds an intriguing element. At 7-4, he brings a lot of rim protection. What have you seen from him, and how important do you think he’ll be as an anchor of this defense?
Marcus Smart: "Huge, man. He’s gonna be huge for us. He allows us to do a lot of different things on the defensive end. He lets me and Jaren really give everything we’ve got. Being former Defensive Players of the Year, it’s great to have that rim protection behind us. And being 7-4 definitely helps with that. He moves very well, his IQ is very high, and he’s only continuing to get better."
Q: Speaking of two Defensive Players of the Year who now have a rim protector like Edey, what do you think is the potential of this defensive unit compared to teams you've played on in the past?
Marcus Smart: "We have a high ceiling. If we can stay locked in and figure it out early on, we can be really good, especially defensively. We've got the talent, the guys can do it, and the definition of what it takes."
Q: Last year, with Ja out from shoulder surgery, Desmond and Jaren had to fill larger roles. How do you think they’ve progressed in their offensive games, and how do you think that can help this season?
Marcus Smart: "Tremendously. We asked Jaren to take on more offensively, and that takes a toll on the body. He’s been able to learn more about himself, more about the team, and what he can do to help us. That’s what we need.
"The same goes for Dez—he's a sniper from the outside, but now he’s handling the ball more, calling plays, being a playmaker. It’s added another dimension to his game, where he’s not just a one-dimensional player anymore. That’s been huge for us."
Q: You’ve worked with Noah LaRoche in the past during offseasons, and now he’s on the coaching staff. What did you work on this offseason, and how helpful is it to have someone you’ve already worked with now on the team’s staff?
Marcus Smart: "Familiarity is always a good thing. The things we’re doing as a team, I’ve been doing with him individually in my workouts. So, it’s just like riding a bike—you just get back into it. I think it’s great. He’s helping us move without the ball, keep our spacing, and create advantages both with and without the ball in our hands."
Q: With Zach Edey, he's not just a rim protector—he's also a pick-and-roll option. With Ja on your team, what do you think the potential is of their pick-and-roll tandem together?
Marcus Smart: "Oh, it’s going to be deadly, man. It’s just going to open up things even more for us, especially for Ja. We all know what Ja can do with a little bit of space, so just imagine what he can do with a lot of space cleared out by a big like Zach."
Q: And for you individually, is there anything you’re focusing on this season?
Marcus Smart: "Yeah, man, just going out there to compete with these guys for the full season and seeing what we can make out of it."