It’s a little wonder Memphis prevented the bottom two spots in our rankings.
Despite having lottery talent, this team could become uncomfortably near the luxury tax next year –the past on Chandler Parsons’ onerous thing. What’s worse, this group has an outgoing first-rounder hanging on its head. While the pick owed to the Boston Celtics has top-eight protection this season and top-six coverage the next, it is going to be redeemed in 2021 in case it hasn’t already conveyed.
Who’s to say the Grizzlies won’t be terrible in 2020-21?
But Memphis has uncovered a franchise anchor in 19-year-old Jaren Jackson Jr., who’s almost solely responsible for this standing. The toughest task in rebuilding is adding celebrities, but the Grizzlies currently appear to have found one. Jackson’s per-36-minute averages comprise 19.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.2 triples and 1.2 steals; that is unprecedented creation for an NBA freshman.
It might help if Jackson had more high-ceiling talent around him, but maybe Memphis could create a route to some this offseason. After sending out Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies could cut the cable on the grit-and-grind era for great with a trade of Mike Conley, whose name bounced around plenty near the trade deadline.
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