Jaylen Wells

Wells is the rare second-rounder, 39th out of Washington State in 2024, who forced his way into a starting job and kept it. As a rookie he made the All-Rookie First Team, almost unheard of for a pick that late, on the strength of the unglamorous stuff: guarding the other team's best wing and knocking down catch-and-shoot threes. That rookie year ended with a frightening in-game fall on a dunk attempt that left him with a broken wrist and a concussion, and 2025-26 brought more bad luck. After starting 69 games and averaging 12.5 points, a tendon fracture in his right big toe required season-ending surgery in March. The encouraging read: Memphis trusts him as a connective, low-usage wing who raises a lineup's floor rather than needing plays run for him, and he's expected back at full health for 2026-27.