RIP 2017 Memphis Grizzlies
Well, the 2016 Memphis Grizzlies and 2017 Memphis Grizzlies have something in common. They both lost to the San Antonio Spurs, as the 7 seed, in the first round in the playoffs. This season however, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley were both healthy, and they gave San Antonio a real scare. I guess Gasol and Conley equal one playoff win apiece per series, so I'm assuming they need more help should they plan on continued contention.
DRAFT PICKS: None
CAP SPACE: $8,010,000
FREE AGENTS: Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, Vince Carter, JaMychal Green
PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT
C-Marc Gasol, Brandan Wright
PF-Deyonta Davis, Jarell Martin
SF-James Ennis, Chandler Parsons
SG-Troy Daniels
PG-Wade Baldwin, Mike Conley, Andrew Harrison
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS OFF-SEASON
So, what I see here is a team with stars, and young players. They are going to need veteran experience this off-season, and I'm not sure keeping all of their free agents is the right move, or even possible. They will need to use the bargain bin to find replacements for (likely) Vince Carter and JaMychal Green. They could also keep Green and get rid of Randolph. They will also need Parsons to actually contribute next season.
EARLY PREDICTION FOR 2017-18
I think Parsons will be somewhat back to his former self, and enough of the young players will step forward and help ease the pain of losing one to three of those veterans. However, unless they get more help, they won't do any better than this season. I'm guessing they will be somewhere between the 5 and 7 seed, and maybe make the second round. In other words, it's Memphis.