NASHVILLE — Pump the brakes.

New is always exciting, but Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins cautions people that things could look messy first before they start to click.

A new-look offense is expected in Memphis this season, and the Grizzlies began implementing their strategy Tuesday afternoon at the team's first official practice, which was held at The Ensworth School in Nashville.

Two priorities are more ball movement and cuts. Everyone on offense should touch the ball, which should lead to more players organically being worked into the game flow.

This means less pick and roll with guys standing around playing off of players. More cuts should also keep the defense honest. Many teams have been able to key in on star point guard Ja Morant with multiple defenders; more cutting should keep defenders honest.

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“I feel like it plays right into my hands and allows me to get better looks and don’t have to create so much,” Morant said.

Freeing up Ja Morant

Morant now will be able to defer more to other players to organize the offense. That wouldn’t work in some systems, but that is something the Grizzlies have the personnel to attempt. Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane are two projected starters who have shown the ability to average more than five assists a season as playmakers.

In each of the two previous Grizzlies playoff series losses, defenses zeroed in on Morant when he was on the floor, and the Grizzlies' offense relied heavily on his ability to make things happen.

“I feel like it will make us more dangerous to guard as the ball keeps moving around the floor,” Morant said.

New Grizzlies offensive challenges

It’s been only one day of practice, but everyone has been planning for the changes. Summer league players first got a glimpse of them, and many of the Grizzlies players worked together in the summer, focusing on those new offensive principles.

For example, pushing the pace will be critical. That’s nothing new, but whoever gets the rebound could be the player who starts the offense. In other words, one possession it could be Morant; on the next, Smart could be getting everyone organized. In preseason, players will learn where to go based on who is starting the show.

“It’s simple,” Morant said. “Obviously it’s new to us. It’s not going to be perfect day one. We still got a lot to work on pretty much with spacing.”

Another challenge with the new flashy toy is the obvious. More guys getting the ball means fewer offensive touches for Morant. Jenkins will be tasked with figuring out a medium.

Morant is one of the NBA’s best facilitators and he clearly makes the offense soar to new heights when he’s running the show, but you don’t want to get overly reliant on those skills.

“It’s going to be a fun process,” Jenkins said. “We’re going to have to read each other. We’re going to have to have that level of feel that’s going to come out as we’re competing here in training camp, the rest of preseason, the preseason games to kind of get a feel for the strengths of all our guys.”

Zach Edey's fit in new offense

Adjusting to this brand of basketball should be easier for players like Morant, Smart and Bane. They all have experience playing on and off the ball.

A player to watch, however, is rookie first-round draft pick Zach Edey. When he was at Purdue, the 7-foot-4 center was simply told to score when he was guarded by one player. In Memphis, he could be asked to be more of a playmaker in some of those situations.

Edey said he believes his passing is an underrated part of his game. Now, with an emphasis and a different style of basketball, he is ready to show what he can bring to the new offense.

“Now I’m trying to see the floor, I’m trying to make plays for other people,” he said. “It’s just a different way of playing basketball.”

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Ja Morant and Zach Edey fit into new Memphis Grizzlies offense