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What’s next for the Memphis Grizzlies?

By Da'Vonte Hughes

Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images /
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With a new potential star player entering the fold from the 2018 NBA Draft, how will the Memphis Grizzlies look next season?

The Memphis Grizzlies finished the 2017-18 NBA season with a 22-60 record. The lottery afforded them a chance at a star in the 2018 NBA Draft, with the fourth overall pick being used on Jaren Jackson Jr. out of Michigan State. Jackson was definitely one of the best prospects in the entire draft.

JJJ will slide into the starting 5 when he is ready and play alongside center Marc Gasol, and will eventually be his replacement. But what went wrong for the Grizzlies last season?

Unfortunately, they once again suffered a plethora of injuries that severely weakened the roster. Mike Conley Jr. and Chandler Parsons played a combined 48 games for the Grizzlies last season. If the Grizzlies want to compete, those two will need to get healthy and stay healthy.

Free agency

With the 2018 NBA Draft now concluded, it is time to talk free agency plans. Due to the max deals that the Grizzlies are paying out to Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons and Marc Gasol, the amount of money for free agency is very sparse. The following players are my suggestions for the Grizzlies to let walk and sign among their free agents.

Let Walk:

Re-sign:

Re-signing Tyreke Evans would put the Memphis Grizzlies in a bit of a pickle, but if you are banking on success in 2018-19, then you have to try your best to re-sign him. Tyreke Evans averaged 19.4 points, 5.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Grizz last season. He would give the starting lineup a boost in offensive potential for this upcoming season.

One player on the outside Memphis should look into is Glenn Robinson III, who would give the team a young forward that could potentially become a solid rotation player.

The Grizzlies drafted point guard Jevon Carter in the second round of this year’s draft, but they also have a player in Andrew Harrison that can take over backup point guard duties after Mario Chalmers’ departure.

Depth chart

If the Memphis Grizzlies can remain healthy, this team has the potential to return to the playoffs. The hardworking and gritty Grizzlies will be back and return to the winning side of things.

Next: Complete 2018 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams

At lot can happen in free agency, but as constructed above, that team could finish with around 47 wins and finish in the latter half of the Western Conference playoff picture, as a young team makes significant progress and earns its first playoff bid since 2017.

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