Complete 2018 NBA offseason grades for all 30 teams

Memphis Grizzlies

Key additions: Jaren Jackson Jr. (draft), Jevon Carter (draft), Omri Casspi (free agency), Kyle Anderson (free agency), Garrett Temple (trade), Dakari Johnson (trade), Shelvin Mack (free agency)

Key subtractions: Tyreke Evans (free agency), Ben McLemore (trade), Deyonta Davis (trade), Jarell Martin (trade)

With a hopefully healthy Mike Conley Jr. and a hopefully reinvigorated Marc Gasol next year, the Memphis Grizzlies are teetering between “dark horse threat to make the playoffs” and “why have they still not blown this team up?” territory. Their offseason reflected that.

On the rebuild front, drafting Jaren Jackson Jr. fourth overall provides the Grizz with a formidable interior defender and a potential stretch-5 who can pick up the mantle once Big Spain’s time comes. Jevon Carter was born for the Grit-N-Grind life, and even drastically overpaying Kyle Anderson at least provides the core with a soon-to-be 25-year-old to help build around.

On the “let’s make the playoffs” front, Jackson can still be useful as an ideal complement next to Gasol until he’s prepared/strong enough to play the 5 full-time. Omri Casspi should help spread the floor, Anderson is a good defender and secondary playmaker and Garrett Temple remains vastly underrated. Even Shelvin Mack lends backcourt depth should injury strike again.

The Grizzlies feel like a long shot to make the playoffs this year, and perhaps a full-scale roster teardown would’ve been more prudent. But Conley and Gasol don’t exactly have the most trade value right now, and if they stay healthy, and if JJJ proves himself to be as NBA-ready as he looked in Summer League, this team could be yet another annoying entry in the Grit-N-Grind saga.

Grade: B-