Jerami Grant
Grant is a heavy-minutes scorer for a rebuilding Memphis team, and early reporting has him as the lead bench forward rather than a starter.
Role
Rotowire's Oct 20 note says he was expected to open the year in a significant role off the bench. ESPN's player page (undated Spin) says he led the second unit in scoring Wednesday and should play significant minutes consistently. Another note says he came off the bench behind Jaylen Wells, and the two are the main candidates for the starting small forward job. I did not find a minutes figure or usage rate for the regular season. I did not fetch a live depth chart or starting-five page, so I cannot say who starts today. A projection from SI's Grizzlies site (about 61 days old) had Grant sharing frontcourt minutes with Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey and Cedric Coward. It is a projection, not a reading of the rotation. The preseason rest and maintenance absences are noted, but I found nothing on back-to-back rest plans.
Memphis traded Ja Morant for him, so he is likely to be one of the team's top scorers. SI's Grizzlies site says he scores at all three levels and switches defensively. It also says he will probably take a good share of the frontcourt minutes whether he starts or not. Rotowire says that ability gives coach Tuomas Iisalo lineup flexibility, and that he should have a significant role either way.
He is 32 and is coming off the bench behind Wells in the early going. SI notes a reputation that his scoring averages do not translate to winning. Rotowire's preseason note called his starting role unclear, and he sat out the end of preseason for maintenance, which raises a rest question for a veteran. Our own last-season line shows only 3 games played, so it is not a reliable guide to his workload.
Where analysts split
Whether Grant starts or stays a sixth-man forward. Reporters from the Commercial Appeal and Rotowire described a competition with Wells for the small forward spot. SI's projection instead places him in the frontcourt next to Boozer, with matchups and availability deciding. The opener had him on the bench.
Research confidence: thin. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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