31in30: Memphis Grizzlies

Via Bleacher Report

Key Players: Mike Conley, Marc Gasol

Pour one for the Grit'N Grind Grizzlies. Tony Allen signed to the Pelicans and Zach Randolph is trapping in Sacramento this season. In an attempt to free up cap space, the Grizzlies let their identity walk in free agency. One problem--the player that the cap space was supposed to be used on remains unsigned. With training camp dangerously close, starting Power Forward Jamychal Green is in free agent purgatory. Green turned down a reported 4-year $70 million deal, betting on himself to receive a bigger contract next year as an unrestricted free agent(think Jimmy Butler). The only problem is the Grizzlies don't want Green to become an unrestricted free agent and walk, so they haven't even offered the bargain 1-year $2.8 million qualifying offer. In true NFL fashion, it's a game of who's going to flinch first--the player or the organization. The player. The player always flinches first. Besides the Green saga, Memphis had an uneventful summer--biggest moves being signing Tyreke Evans and Ben Mclemore.

Best Case Scenario

Via NBA.com

Where there's a Mike Conley-Marc Gasol combo there's a way. Conley is coming off his first 20 points per game season, posting averages of 20.5 points, 6.3 assists, and an impressive 40% three-point conversion rate last season. His partner-in-crime Marc Gasol is also coming off a career year, with season averages of 19.5 points, 4.6 assists, 6.3 rebounds and a newly found three-point stroke. Gasol had only attempted 66 threes going into last season; he literally quadrupled that last season with 268 attempts on a solid 39% conversion rate. Even after losing their identity in a ridiculously tough Western Conference, behind Gasol, Conley, and "take that for data" Fizdale the Grizzlies can't be counted out to make the playoffs.

Worst Case Scenario

Via USA Today FTW

NBA fans have been calling for a Grizzlies' rebuild since the Russ-KD-Harden OKC days, but a competitive playoff appearance would always push it off. Aside from Conley and Gasol, Memphis' roster is disturbingly inconsistent and unproven. Starting Shooting Guard Ben Mclemore is coming off a single-digit scoring average season. $94 million man Chandler Parsons appears on TMZ more than he does the court and is coming off a 6.2 points per game season. Ninety-four million dollars. Six points a game. Tyreke Evans could take Parsons' spot, but he's no sure thing either--only playing 40 games last season. Barring all those players reach their potential, a rebuild is on the Memphis horizon.

Prediction: 40-42; no playoffs for the first time this decade.

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