Memphis Grizzlies begin the real rebuilding in earnest

Best-case scenario

The Memphis Grizzlies aren’t likely to emerge as a contender for a playoff berth in the Western Conference this season, but a best-case scenario for this group is to be competitive with a heavy emphasis on developing the kids.

In that scenario, Jaren Jackson Jr. shows more consistency in his second season, staying healthy while improving his 35.9 percent 3-point shooting from his rookie year, getting stronger on the glass — just 4.7 rebounds per game last season — and being the versatile stretch big who can knock down jumpers and protect the rim.

Ja Morant shows he wasn’t just a mid-major sensation, making the Rookie of the Year race into a tight battle with No. 1 pick Zion Williamson while emerging as a playmaking scorer who can lead the Grizzlies for the next decade.

Grayson Allen thrives with his first opportunity at regular rotational minutes after spending his rookie season buried on the depth chart in Utah, emerging as a solid scorer and shooter and a guy opponents hate to play against — for reasons good and maybe less than that.

Brandon Clarke shows a lot of the moxie he showed in the Summer League and Josh Jackson gets an opportunity to turn his career around after a couple of disappointing seasons in the desert and Memphis flirts with 35 wins in a much-better-than-expected season.

Worst-case scenario

Morant turns out to be more Cameron Payne than Chris Paul, potentially adding another name to the list of much-hyped point guards out of the Ohio Valley Conference that didn’t meet those expectations.

JJJ still struggles with consistency and gets lost under the glass as he continues to struggle with box outs and timing.

Andre Iguodala proves to be a major distraction and the locker room splits into two distinct sides — veterans and kids — with a lot of sparring behind the scenes and anonymously in the media to deal with.

When it’s all said and done, the Grizzlies load up on ping-pong balls after struggling flirting with 70 losses.

Predictions

The Memphis Grizzlies, because of their youth and amount of roster turnover they experienced this offseason, will likely take a step back from their 33-49 record from last season, but it won’t be a lost season.

Memphis will be a much more competitive team in March and April than it will be in October and November as the new pieces come together and roles and rotations become established.

Ja Morant will be one of the top rookies in the NBA and give Grizzlies’ fans something to hang their future hopes on, while Jaren Jackson Jr. will make significant progress provided he can stay healthy.

Memphis has itself positioned well for the future with a lot of future assets stacked up — not Oklahoma City-level, but hey, who does? — and some young pieces already on the table.

A realistic expectation for the Grizzlies in 2019-20 would be something around a 27-55 record with a stronger showing late in the season as a springboard into 2020-21 and beyond.