NBA: 10 candidates for a bounce-back season in 2018-19

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6. Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies

After missing all but 12 games last year, a 30-year-old Mike Conley will need to stay healthy for the Memphis Grizzlies to have any outside shot at the playoffs. In fact, they have $30.5 million riding on his health — not to mention $32.5 million the following season, and then another $34.5 million the year after that.

Conley’s designation as the best point guard in the NBA to never make an All-Star Game remains, but he wasn’t his best self in his very limited action last year, averaging 17.1 points and 4.1 assists per game on 38.1 percent shooting from the floor and 31.2 percent shooting from long range.

A healthy Conley and Marc Gasol has generally been enough for the Grizz to reach the playoffs, but that formula might not hold true in 2018-19. For Memphis to shock the world, it’ll need the return of the same Conley who put up a career-high 20.5 points and 6.3 assists per game in 2016-17.