Memphis Grizzlies: 3 takeaways from 2019 NBA offseason

1. Don’t be fooled; this team will stink

For as much fun as this young core is going to have, it’s just that: a young core. Young players, though exciting in spurts, tend to suck early on. That’s why typical rebuilds take several seasons.

Point guard is the hardest position to learn at the NBA level, and Ja Morant will have his rough patches. Ideally Mike Conley would be Morant’s mentor, but the front office did the correct thing and got great value for him.

The aforementioned support cast isn’t ready to win games at the next level yet. Most of those guys are ideas more so than players.

Objectively, Jaren Jackson Jr. is the team’s best player right now. Jonas Valancuinas and Jae Crowder (until he’s dealt) make cases too, which is telling enough of how weak this team truly is right now.

And that’s totally fine. A healthy rebuild lets prospects work through their growing pains, with requisite lessons from the coaching staff as well. Taylor Jenkins is a relative unknown in this regard, but he’s part of a front office makeover that’s sure to help the Grizzly cubs grow.

For now, just enjoy the ride that comes with watching youngsters grow. An organic rebuild hasn’t been undertaken by this franchise arguably ever, and now they have the organizational fortitude to make one happen.