It’s a minor miracle Memphis prevented the bottom two spots in our rankings.
Despite having lottery ability, this team could get uncomfortably close to the luxury tax next year –the past on Chandler Parsons’ onerous deal. What’s worse, this group has an outgoing first-rounder hanging over its head. While the selection owed to the Boston Celtics has top-eight security this year and top-six coverage the next, it’ll be unprotected in 2021 in case it has not already conveyed.
Who is to say the Grizzlies won’t be terrible in 2020-21?
But Memphis has at least uncovered a franchise anchor in 19-year-old Jaren Jackson Jr., who is almost solely responsible for this ranking. The toughest task in rebuilding is adding celebrities, however, the Grizzlies currently seem to have found one. Jackson’s per-36-minute averages comprise 19.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 cubes, 1.2 triples and 1.2 steals; that’s unprecedented creation for an NBA freshman.
It might help if Jackson had more high-ceiling talent , but maybe Memphis could make a route to some this offseason. After sending out Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies could cut the cord on the grit-and-grind age for great with a trade of Mike Conley, whose title bounced around a lot near the trade deadline.
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