There was not a ton to be excited about as a Memphis Grizzlies fan over the first half of 2018.
The team was hemorrhaging losses; Mike Conley’s health was in question, and Marc Gasol’s ceiling was, too. Few of Memphis’ pieces seemed like long-term fixes, and the Ghost of Chandler Parsons severely capped (pun intended) their flexibility.
The Grizzlies’ 2018 may as well not have started until Draft Night, where they appear to have reaped great value from last season’s misery. Jaren Jackson Jr is already making a loud impact, and is mimicing the arc of a legitimate franchise player.