In addition to Bane, the Grizzlies lost some other players this offseason, including guard Yuki Kawamura. After playing in 22 games for Memphis last season, the Japanese native signed a summer league contract with the Chicago Bulls in the offseason.

At the present moment, the Grizzlies are taking part in the NBA Summer League from Las Vegas, and Morant was recently in attendance at a game, during which he gave an interview to NBA insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN about his own offseason regimen.

Sure, some fans brush off Summer League as “meaningless” or “empty-calorie basketball,” but for players like Jackson, it’s a critical proving ground. With 11th overall pick Cedric Coward and rising guard Vince Williams Jr. currently penciled in for key minutes, the battle for a regular-season role is wide open — and Jackson is making a strong case.