How will Chandler Parsons, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies do in 2016-17?
Here are our player scouting reports and analysis.
Projected starters
Mike Conley
Position: Guard
Experience: 9 years
Age: 28
Scouting report
+ Steady point guard who signed the richest contract in NBA history (for now)
+ Makes good decisions with the ball and capable of scoring and distributing
+ Good defender whose size may become an issue as he ages
Analysis
Like many Grizzlies, Conley saw his 2015-16 season cut short by injury. Achilles tendinitis kept him out of the year's final 20 games plus the playoffs. Nonetheless, Conley hit free agency at the perfect time. Far and away the top point guard on the market, he got a five-year offer for the maximum salary ($152.6 million) to stay in Memphis, the largest contract ever signed by an NBA player -- though surely to be surpassed as the cap continues to rise.
Never flashy, Conley has established himself as a fringe All-Star point guard by virtue of being nearly equally effective driving to score and pass. He averaged a career-high 7.0 assists per 36 minutes last season, impressive given the limited offense around him. A good enough 3-point shooter (36.3 percent last season, 37.3 percent career) to keep defenses honest, Conley saw his accuracy inside the arc dip to a career-low 44.9 percent because he wasn't as effective finishing. Conley made 54.4 percent of his attempts inside 3 feet, per Basketball-Reference.com, down from 58.8 percent the year before.
The Grizzlies surely hope that downturn was related to the Achilles soreness Conley experienced much of the season, though age has to be a concern, as he turns 29 in October. Similar point guards have tended to decline early; among Conley's four most similar players via my SCHOENE projection system, only Isiah Thomas was still a full-time starter past age 31.
Those players have small stature in common with Conley, and as tough as he is, that could be an issue for Conley defensively as he ages. For now he's a plus defender at the position because of how hard he competes and how well he moves his feet to keep opponents in front of him.
Tony Allen
Position: Guard
Experience: 12 years
Age: 34
Scouting report
+ Elite wing stopper who's scarcely declined in his mid-30s
+ Non-shooter who will have a tough time scoring as athleticism wanes
+ Has had a tough time staying on the court in recent years
Analysis
During his retirement tour, Kobe Bryant paid Allen the ultimate compliment, signing a pair of shoes with the message "To Tony, the best defender I ever faced." Allen repaid the favor by scoring 27 points on perfect 12-of-12 shooting in their last head-to-head meeting in March. Such a performance was out of the ordinary for Allen, who's still stout defensively but in decline on offense at age 34. He's also dealt with a series of injuries that have caused him to miss at least 18 games each of the last three seasons, a concern now that Allen is back in the role of starting shooting guard with questionable depth behind him.
Of course, Allen has never been known for his offense. He's a non-shooting shooting guard whose 15 3-pointers last season were the second-highest total of his career. But Allen is a good, active cutter who has generally shot a high percentage by virtue of limiting his outside attempts. His 2-point percentage dropped from 50.5 percent in 2014-15 to 46.8 percent last season, and SCHOENE is pessimistic it will rebound much.
It's hard to find evidence of Allen slipping defensively. He's still a great athlete, and his dogged defensive determination rarely wanes. Allen's steal rate was down a little last season, but he had room to spare after leading the league in 2014-15 and still finished second behind Ricky Rubio. Beyond forcing turnovers, Allen makes high-scoring wing opponents work for every shot attempt and his physical style is effective against bigger opponents. As a result, Allen's plus-2.2 defensive rating in ESPN's real plus-minus ranked second among shooting guards.
Chandler Parsons
Position: Forward
Experience: 5 years
Age: 27
Scouting report
+ Versatile forward who's been slowed by recurrent knee injuries
+ Capable shot creator hoping for more pick-and-roll opportunities
+ Average defender with the ability to slide to power forward
Analysis
The biggest free-agent signing in Grizzlies history, Parsons passed on an identical offer from the Portland Trail Blazers to sign a maximum four-year, $94 million deal with Memphis. Parsons' former team, the Dallas Mavericks, weren't part of the bidding because of concerns about his pair of right knee surgeries in the last 18 months. After undergoing a hybrid microfracture surgery to replace his cartilage in May 2015, Parsons' 2015-16 season ended in March when he tore the meniscus in the same knee and had arthroscopic surgery.
Before the meniscus injury, Parsons was playing as well as ever, posting a career-best .589 true shooting percentage. That was mostly thanks to shooting 41.4 percent from 3-point range, better than his career 38.0 percent mark. Often a spot-up shooter with the Mavericks and Houston Rockets, Parsons would like to play more with the ball in his hands and was sold by the Grizzlies' pitch that his usage rate (never higher than 20.6 percent before) would go up in Memphis. Playing next to Allen on the wing, Parsons should serve as a secondary ball handler and get to run pick-and-rolls more frequently. His 47.7 percent shooting as a pick-and-roll ball handler ranked among the top 10 for players with at least 100 attempts, per Synergy Sports tracking on NBA.com/Stats.
Allen will be the best defender who has suited up alongside Parsons, sparing him the most difficult matchups. When healthy, Parsons holds his own defensively, but he can't be considered a stopper. At 6-foot-9, Parsons has enough size to defend second-unit power forwards, a role he played frequently in Dallas but probably won't for the Grizzlies because they're deeper in the frontcourt than on the wing.
Zach Randolph
Position: Forward
Experience: 15 years
Age: 35
Scouting report
+ Aging, ground-bound power forward who still finds ways to score
+ Accurate midrange shooter who likes to play facing the basket
+ Suffered steep decline as defensive rebounder
Analysis
Now 35, Randolph has slowed a little (not that he was ever particularly fast) and actually came off the bench early last season as the Grizzlies looked for solutions to a slow start. But it was Randolph who was the last man standing among Memphis' three stars come the playoffs, and he continues to play a crucial role entering the last year of the contract extension he signed in 2014.
The biggest difference in Randolph's game last season was how frequently he got easy baskets. No longer an elite offensive rebounder, Randolph mostly relies on getting to the hoop by facing up opposing power forwards and driving on them with a good jab step. That's getting more difficult, and the 31.4 percent of Randolph's shot attempts that came within 3 feet was a career low according to Basketball-Reference.com. Randolph mostly traded those attempts for long 2s, and while he's a good midrange shooter (41.0 percent on 2-pointers beyond 16 feet), those shots aren't as valuable by definition. Randolph has made strides as a passer and averaged 3.3 assists per game after the All-Star break, including the first triple-double of his career.
Since Randolph could never really jump, he hasn't declined much defensively in his mid-30s. Randolph tends to rely on strength more than quickness, trying to push opponents off their spots. But as he becomes less agile, it may be affecting his rebounding. Randolph's defensive rebounding percentage dropped from 25.6 percent to 20.7 percent, his lowest mark in a decade.
Marc Gasol
Position: Center
Experience: 8 years
Age: 31
Scouting report
+ Skilled center coming back from fractured navicular bone
+ Excellent shooter and distributor from the high post
+ Good positional defender who protects rim without blocking shots
Analysis
The Grizzlies were fifth in the West and holding when Gasol limped off the court on Feb. 8 with what would eventually be diagnosed as a fractured navicular bone in his right foot. Though many more injuries would follow, none is more significant to the franchise. Memphis has spent the past seven months holding its breath that Gasol will be able to return healthy from the injury, historically one of the most devastating possible for a 7-footer.
Even when healthy, Gasol wasn't the same player in 2015-16 as his previous All-Star campaign. At 31, Gasol may have been slowing down either way. His offensive decline can be traced to an unprecedented inability to finish around the rim. Gasol made a career-low 59.5 percent of his shots inside 3 feet, according to Basketball-Reference.com, down from 69.9 percent the year before. Gasol remained good as ever in the high post, where he's both an excellent midrange shooter (43.5 percent on 2-point attempts beyond 16 feet) and one of the best passing 7-footers in the league.
Despite modest block totals, Gasol remains an effective rim protector because of his imposing presence in the paint. Opponents shot just 45.7 percent within 5 feet against him, the seventh-lowest mark among players who defended at least five such shots per game according to SportVU tracking on NBA.com/Stats. But the Grizzlies' defense wasn't as effective overall, and RPM casts some of the blame on Gasol. Two years removed from ranking in the NBA's top five in defensive RPM, Gasol ranked 27th among centers last season.
Reserves
Brandan Wright
Position: Center
Experience: 8 years
Age: 28
Scouting report
+ Quality backup big man whose season was lost to knee injuries
+ High-percentage finisher who runs pick-and-roll well
+ Solid shot-blocker who can get pushed around by bigger foes
Analysis
The first season of Wright's three-year, $17 million deal to serve as a backup big man was almost completely lost to injuries. After suffering knee pain in early November, Wright was sidelined a month before undergoing surgery that kept him out through the All-Star break. Five games into his return, Wright sprained the MCL in the same knee, ending his campaign. Healthy again, Wright will try Take 2 with the Grizzlies.
When he was on the court, Wright was the same high-percentage finisher he's always been, shooting 67.3 percent from the field. He's particularly effective in the pick-and-roll because he can catch on the move or go above the rim to finish lob passes. Playing regularly alongside Zach Randolph, Wright spent a bit more time in the high post than in the past. He was effective as a high-low passer but did turn the ball over more frequently (a career-high 13.8 percent of his plays, up from 7.6 percent the season before) than when he was strictly a finisher.
Defensively, Wright relies on a wingspan of nearly 7-foot-4 to contest and block shots. In the limited action, his block rate (6.6 percent of opponents' 2-point attempts) was actually a career high. Wright isn't nearly as effective defensively as that would suggest because he gives up strength to most opposing centers. That's a problem in terms of post defense and on the defensive glass, where Wright is a liability.
JaMychal Green
Position: Forward
Experience: 2 years
Age: 26
Scouting report
+ Longtime D-League standout who found role as backup big man
+ Capable of stretching the floor or scoring in the post
+ Better suited defensively as power forward than center
Analysis
After finishing 2014-15 playing sparingly for Memphis in the wake of a call-up from the D-League, Green carved out a spot in the rotation last season and played a team-high 78 games. While the final season of his minimum-salary contract is only guaranteed for $200,000, Green is a lock to stick and likely to remain a key reserve.
The 6-foot-9 Green has a versatile offensive game. He spent most of his time on the perimeter, where he's comfortable handling the ball and liked to drive. Green made just enough 3-pointers (15 on 33.3 percent accuracy) to keep defenders honest. He was less effective finishing over bigger defenders, shooting 56.3 percent on attempts inside three feet per Basketball-Reference.com. The Grizzlies posted Green up at times when teams put a smaller player on him, although he shot just 39.3 percent on those attempts according to Synergy Sports tracking on NBA.com/Stats.
Because of Memphis' injuries, Green saw spot minutes at center in addition to power forward. He's miscast in that role. Green can contribute some rim protection as a secondary option but isn't big or capable enough to be a primary defender in the paint. Green's strength defensively is his mobility. He showed good instincts defending the pick-and-roll and is capable of switching onto guards and containing them one-on-one.
James Ennis
Position: Forward
Experience: 2 years
Age: 27
Scouting report
+ Wing with size and shooting ability who broke out late in season
+ Offensive value largely tied to 3-point percentage
+ Capable of defending either forward position
Analysis
In part because former coach Dave Joerger apparently wasn't a fan, the Grizzlies waived Ennis in March -- four months after acquiring him in the deal that brought Mario Chalmers to Memphis -- to add a backup center (Joerger favorite Ryan Hollins) due to injuries at the position. That move cost them since Ennis had a non-guaranteed minimum salary for 2016-17. To re-sign Ennis after he averaged 15.9 points in nine late-season appearances with the New Orleans Pelicans, the Grizzlies had to offer $6 million over two years.
Ennis should get more opportunities under new Memphis coach David Fizdale, an assistant with the Miami Heat during Ennis' year-plus with the team. The Heat viewed Ennis as a possible 3-and-D contributor on the wing, but he shot just 32.6 percent from 3-point range in Miami. That changed in a big way in New Orleans, where Ennis shot 48.0 percent. He's unlikely to stay as hot as during that 50-shot sample, but if Ennis can maintain his current career mark of 37.3 percent, he'll be a rotation-caliber player. Ennis can also generate easy buckets by cutting hard and running the floor hard in transition.
Listed at 6-foot-7, Ennis plays bigger than his size defensively and spent extended time at power forward with the Pelicans. He's quick enough to hold his own defending on the wing and generated steals at a good rate last season, though Ennis' D-League numbers suggest that might be something of a fluke.
Vince Carter
Position: Guard
Experience: 18 years
Age: 39
Scouting report
+ Still a key contributor in wing rotation nearing age 40
+ Rarely creates own shot at this point but saw shooting bounce back
+ Size allows him to compete defensively
Analysis
Carter will turn 40 in January and his 2016-17 salary is just $2 million guaranteed, but Memphis decided to bring him back after finding the alternatives lacking. Given the Grizzlies' limited wing depth, Carter could play a more important role than last season, when he averaged 16.8 minutes per game and was the third-leading scorer on a short-handed squad in the playoffs. Or, since Carter's contract is non-guaranteed through midseason, he could be waived to clear a roster spot or even a trade chip to bring in someone making similar salary in a deal.
After a brutal first season in Memphis, Carter rediscovered some of his shooting touch, making a credible 34.9 percent of his 3-point attempts. Healthier than the year before, Carter increased his dunk total from five to 16, per Basketball-Reference.com -- hardly reminiscent of the young player nicknamed "Air Canada," but still indicative of improved explosiveness. For the most part, though, Carter is now a catch-and-shoot player.
At 6-foot-6, Carter is big for a shooting guard, which along with his experience has helped him defensively as he's aged. Carter's steal rate is still solid for a wing -- his hands are quick as ever -- and he contributes on the defensive glass. But Carter is predictably ineffective when asked to guard opponents who are dangerous off the bounce.
Wade Baldwin
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
Age: 20
Scouting report
+ Rookie point guard with tools to succeed at both ends
+ Good outside shooter who struggled finishing at the rim
+ Long arms make him an effective defender
Analysis
A lightly heralded prospect entering Vanderbilt, Baldwin played his way into the first round but continued to divide scouts as a sophomore. Believers liked his size, shooting ability and solid statistical projections. Detractors questioned Baldwin's leadership skills and low shooting percentages. Put the Grizzlies in the former category, as they drafted Baldwin 17th overall and will give him every opportunity to win the role of backup point guard as a rookie.
As a sophomore, Baldwin showed dramatic improvement in his ability to create his own shot, boosting his usage rate from 18.7 percent of the Commodores' plays in year one to 25.3 percent while continuing to score with above-average efficiency despite shooting just 42.7 percent from the field. Baldwin padded his true shooting percentage (.571) by taking nearly six free throws a game and shooting 40.6 percent from 3-point range. However, his inability to finish inside is worrisome. Per Hoop-Math.com, he made just 50.4 percent of his shots around the rim last season, which could drop further against NBA-caliber rim protectors. For now, Baldwin should drive to set up teammates rather than score.
Defense should help Baldwin contribute right away. At 6-foot-4, Baldwin has good size for a point guard, and his wingspan (6-foot-11¼) is enormous for the position. Essentially, having Baldwin defend point guards is like putting a wing on them without having to cross-match in the backcourt. Baldwin can get into ball handlers and posted an excellent steal rate as a freshman before declining as a sophomore.
Andrew Harrison
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
Age: 21
Scouting report
+ Talented Kentucky product who spent 2015-16 in the D-League
+ Showed progress as playmaker but still struggled with turnovers
+ Has excellent size for position and can defend both guard spots
Analysis
Memphis stashed Harrison, a 2015 second-round pick, in the D-League during his first pro season. After averaging 18.5 points and 4.9 assists per game, Harrison signed a three-year deal worth just shy of $3 million that will allow him to battle Baldwin for the backup role at point guard.
At Kentucky, Harrison never was entirely comfortable making plays for teammates instead of himself. The Grizzlies were pleased with Harrison's progress in the D-League, and he was the team's lead playmaker at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (averaging 4.0 assists per game) instead of Baldwin. In the D-League, Harrison's pass/shoot ratio was acceptable because he scored efficiently (making 47.6 percent of his 2-point attempts and 36.5 percent of his 3s). That may not be the case against NBA competition, and in Vegas Harrison fired up 12.2 shots per game despite making just 23.0 percent of them.
The 6-foot-6 Harrison has enough size to hold his own at shooting guard -- where twin brother Aaron has played in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets -- and his frame is a huge plus against point guards. Intriguingly, in part because of his size SCHOENE compares Harrison's translated D-League statistics most closely to former Memphis wing Lance Stephenson.
Troy Daniels
Position: Guard
Experience: 3 years
Age: 25
Scouting report
+ Sharpshooting specialist who's been unable to stick in rotations
+ One of the NBA's better catch-and-shoot options
+ Undersized defender who tends to overhelp
Analysis
The Hornets didn't always play Daniels last season, but when they did he made 3-pointers. Despite sporadic playing time, Daniels shot 48.4 percent from 3-point range, the best percentage in the league of anyone with more than 10 attempts (Daniels shot 122). That brought his career accuracy to 43.0 percent, about what SCHOENE projects this year (41.7 percent, the league's seventh-highest projection).
Despite the hot shooting and a handful of big games when he did see extended action -- including a career-high 28 points at Sacramento -- Daniels couldn't crack a deep Charlotte wing rotation when the team was healthy. He should have more opportunity with the Grizzlies, who signed him to a three-year, $10 million deal as part of a sign-and-trade. Given Memphis' long-running need for better shooting and the relatively thin depth chart at shooting guard, Daniels has a chance to emerge as a key reserve.
Playing Daniels does mean something of a defensive sacrifice. Listed at 6-foot-4, Daniels is small for a shooting guard and doesn't provide nearly enough ballhandling to play the point. That could make him a good match with the Grizzlies' big backup point guards, Baldwin and Harrison. As much as teams target him, Daniels isn't necessarily a one-on-one liability, but he's a poor defensive rebounder and tends to overhelp off his man and give up open shots.
Jarell Martin
Position: Forward
Experience: 1 year
Age: 22
Scouting report
+ Second-year forward who showed promise in between foot injuries
+ Fluid athlete with ability to step away from basket on offense
+ Acquitted himself well on defense for a rookie
Analysis
Martin's rookie season was hampered by his left foot. During pre-draft workouts, Martin developed a stress fracture in the foot, forcing him to sit out summer league. Just before training camp, Martin broke the foot, which eventually required another procedure to alleviate soreness that ended his season during the playoffs. In between, Martin showed encouraging flashes of his potential if the Grizzlies can get him healthy.
A listed 6-foot-10, Martin moves well for his size and is skilled for a power forward. He wasn't out of his element handling the ball, including pushing in transition after grabbing a rebound, and was also capable of outrunning defenders in transition. Martin's jumper is still a work in progress, but he's got a smooth release and shot a respectable 72.6 percent from the foul line. Martin also showed promise reading defenses as a roll man in the pick-and-roll game and was a presence on the offensive glass.
Even if healthy, Martin didn't figure to play much before injuries thinned out the Memphis depth chart. After seeing just nine minutes of action before the All-Star break, Martin was a regular part of the second-half rotation and held his own on defense. Martin was prone to fouls (5.5 per 36 minutes) and was ineffective on the defensive glass, an area he'll have to improve going forward.
Deyonta Davis
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
Age: 19
Scouting report
+ Mobile big man who unexpectedly slipped to second round
+ High-percentage finisher with offensive game of a center
+ Fine shot-blocker who must improve strength to defend 7-footers
Analysis
The NBA invited Davis to the draft under the assumption he'd go somewhere just outside the lottery. Instead, Davis fell out of the first round entirely and slipped quietly out of the waiting room before Memphis traded into the top pick of the second round to take him. The story has a happy ending: Davis signed a three-year deal worth nearly $4 million fully guaranteed, nearly as much as No. 25 pick Brice Johnson will make over the same span. Still, expect the Grizzlies to bring the 19-year-old Davis along slowly after he missed summer league due to plantar fasciitis.
Listed as a forward, Davis has the offensive game of a center all the way. Per Synergy Sports tracking, he attempted just 10 shots all season beyond 10 feet and shot 60.5 percent from the foul line (on 38 attempts). Most likely, Memphis will play Davis like the similar Wright in the pick-and-roll game. While he got few such opportunities at Michigan State, Davis can provide vertical spacing with his ability to finish lobs, and simplifying the playbook should help him succeed. He'll also contribute putbacks.
Davis' mobility allows him to defend power forwards, but he's also a good shot-blocker who rejected 10.2 percent of opponents' 2-point attempts last season. To defend NBA centers, Davis will have to improve his strength, which should also help on the defensive glass. He tended to lose focus at times defensively and will have to lock in to earn minutes in the NBA.
Jordan Adams
Position: Guard
Experience: 2 years
Age: 22
Scouting report
+ Unathletic but skilled shooting guard whose future is jeopardized by knee injuries
+ If healthy, could supply scoring punch off the bench
+ Was already limited defensively before injuries
Analysis
Grizzlies fans (and Joerger) may always lament drafting Adams over Rodney Hood in 2014, but the comparison ceased to be a fair one when Adams underwent arthroscopic knee surgery the summer after his rookie season. He returned for training camp only to reinjure the knee in the second game he played. A debridement procedure during the year didn't help, and Adams ultimately underwent cartilage replacement surgery in June, sidelining him indefinitely and leaving his NBA future in doubt.
Before the injuries, there was reason to believe Adams could offer some of the scoring Memphis has lacked on the wing. He averaged 18.1 points in 11 D-League appearances as a rookie, shooting 38.3 percent from 3-point range. While Adams never jumped high or ran particularly fast, his quickness and ability to anticipate the play made him a prolific thief defensively and allowed him to get to the basket on a regular basis. We'll see whether those skills are still in evidence if and when Adams returns to the court.
Wayne Selden
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
Age: 21
Scouting report
+ Highly touted prospect who couldn't live up to expectations
+ Efficient college scorer but doesn't contribute much else
Analysis
Rated a five-star prospect by ESPN's Recruiting Nation entering Kansas, Selden figured to head to the NBA quickly. Instead, it took him three years to average double-figure scoring, and when he did leave after his junior season he went undrafted. Selden will join Memphis for training camp on a non-guaranteed deal.
To have a chance at sticking in the NBA, Selden will have to continue his development as a shooter. He went from making 32.8 percent of his 3-point attempts as a freshman to 36.5 percent as a sophomore to 39.3 percent last season. Besides shooting, he contributes little else save secondary ballhandling. Selden is well built for a guard, but a nonfactor on the defensive glass who rarely generated steals.
D.J. Stephens
Position: Forward
Experience: 1 year
Age: 25
Scouting report
+ High-flying combo forward with nominal 3-point range
+ Can defend multiple positions thanks to giant wingspan
Analysis
A University of Memphis product, the high-flying Stephens earned a spot in training camp by averaging 10.3 points on 59.1 percent shooting in three games with the Grizzlies' summer-league team. The 6-foot-5 Stephens played power forward in college thanks to his 46-inch vertical and 7-foot-plus wingspan (per DraftExpress). That's obviously not feasible in the NBA, so Stephens (who had a three-game cameo with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013-14) has been working on his 3-point range. He shot 33.3 percent last season in the D-League, so there's more work to be done.
Troy Williams
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
Age: 21
Scouting report
+ Athletic wing player who impressed in summer league
+ Must demonstrate improvement as outside shooter to stick
Analysis
The 6-foot-7 Williams is an NBA-caliber athlete who played above the rim in Las Vegas with the Phoenix Suns, averaging 12.3 points and 4.3 rebounds on 54.3 percent shooting. That earned him a two-year deal with Memphis that includes $150,000 guaranteed, per BasketballInsiders.com. Since the Grizzlies have 15 players on their roster with guaranteed contracts, that money will likely end up supplementing Williams' D-League salary after he's waived and joins Memphis' affiliate, the Iowa Energy.
A productive college player in three years in Indiana, Williams will have to demonstrate he can fit into a role on the wing in the NBA. He was perhaps a little too eager to show off his 3-point shooting during summer league, firing up 15 attempts in his last three games but making them at just a 26.3 percent clip overall.
Tony Wroten
Position: Guard
Experience: 4 years
Age: 23
Scouting report
+ Big, athletic point guard who's yet to harness skills
+ Struggled with timing coming back from ACL injury
Analysis
Some 20 months later, Wroten is still working back from the torn ACL he suffered midway through the 2014-15 season. He returned to the Philadelphia 76ers in December but was predictably ineffective, shooting 3-of-17 from 3-point range in eight games before being waived on Christmas Eve. The New York Knicks signed Wroten to a multiyear deal in March with the intention of having him as part of their training camp this year, but waived him again in June. Wroten landed with the Grizzlies, who originally drafted him in 2012 and traded him away while current GM Chris Wallace was briefly out of power.
To make the roster, Wroten will have to convince Memphis to eat a guaranteed contract. To do that, he'll have to prove he's fully recovered from the ACL surgery. Even before that, Wroten was something of a project because of his dreadful shot selection (more than a quarter of his shot attempts have been 3s despite career 23.1 percent shooting), turnover issues and lax defense. But Wroten is still just 23 and has great size for a point guard (6-foot-6) in addition to plus athleticism before the injury, so he may have more opportunities in front of him.