The backup plan
While the Grizzlies have proven time and time again that they don’t need a superstar to win games, they do need at least two All-Star caliber players in addition to their continuously above-average depth. They’re currently running an eight-man rotation due to injuries to Dillon Brooks and JaMychal Green but, for the most part they’ve got a fairly deep team, all things considered.
As of right now, however, only one player aside from the aforementioned Conley and Gasol has star potential, and that’s Jaren Jackson Jr. The 19-year-old has tremendous upside and has been playing extremely well when given proper time.
In fact, when given 30 minutes or more this season (four games), he’s averaged 14 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per contest. He’s got all the tools of a successful modern-day big man and looks to be a high-level 4 or 5 later on in his career.
In the clip above, the 6’11” forward is seen doing virtually everything on the floor from hitting 3-pointers, to finishing put-back slams and attacking the rim for easy finishes. However, as good as Jackson may become, he’s not going to single-handedly put the Grizzlies back on the map after the eventual departures of Conley and Gasol.
What would be their first round pick this year will go to the Boston Celtics and they’re winning games right now anyway, so that pick may not even be the kind of high lottery selection to aid a rebuild. The organization may need to think about moving its aging duo within the next year or so, especially while they’re still producing noteworthy numbers.
Considering the fact that they’re paying over $25 million apiece for both Chandler Parsons and Gasol, as well as over $35 million for Conley, Memphis is only projected to have around $35.4 million in cap space this upcoming offseason. Combining this with the fact that the city isn’t a historically popular free agency destination gives even more credence to a potential trade.