Memphis Grizzlies: Best candidates for 2018-19 NBA awards

Rookie of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr.

As a reward for their 60-loss season, the Grizzlies were gifted the fourth overall pick in the 2018 Draft, selecting Michigan State big man Jaren Jackson Jr.

Shaped in the mold of Al Horford and Serge Ibaka, Jackson’s two-way prowess should translate to the pros right away.

Playing next to a guy like Marc Gasol shouldn’t hurt either, as the former All-Star will certainly take some pressure off his new teammate, allowing him to get a feel for the NBA game without becoming too overwhelmed with responsibilities.

When it comes to the Rookie of the Year award, Jackson’s lack of a polished offensive skill-set could hurt his chances in the statistics category. His case would likely be analytics-based, as he looks to be a great rim protector capable of switching onto smaller players.

There’s obviously a reason the Grizzlies picked Jackson as high as they did, but when it comes to awards, the numbers have to be there.

Jackson is likely to have a long and prosperous career, but the success he is sure to have in his inaugural season will be hard to quantify, making him a tough sell for the league’s best rookie in 2019.