Here are our player scouting reports and 2015-16 projections for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Projected starters
Mike Conley
Position: Guard
Experience: 8 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Steady point guard who's been among the league's 10 best players at the position
+ Threat from 3-point range. Smooth pick-and-roll player who loves using off-hand floaters
+ Good defender. Moves his feet well and plays tough against bigger opponents
Analysis
Odds are, Conley will never make an All-Star team because he has the misfortune of playing in the same conference as Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard and Tony Parker. Make no mistake, however. Conley has been one of the NBA's 10 best point guards for several years running. His importance to the Grizzlies has never been clearer than when he suffered a facial fracture in the playoffs that forced him to miss three games, two of the Memphis losses.
Last season was Conley's most efficient offensively, as he made a career-high 107 3-pointers at a 38.6 percent clip. Conley was even better in the first half before dealing with nagging wrist and ankle injuries down the stretch. Because opponents can't play off him, Conley is able to get in the paint off the pick-and-roll. He excels at right-hand floaters -- though he shoots jumpers left-handed, Conley uses his right hand for everything else -- compensating for his average finishing. Rarely spectacular as a passer, Conley makes the right pass and avoids turnovers.
What separates Conley among the league's best offensive point guards is his ability at the other end. The Grizzlies' defense starts with Conley's ability to contain the ball at the point of attack. His quick hands generate steals at a high rate and Conley's slight stature (he's listed at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds) is rarely an issue because of his strength and toughness.
Courtney Lee
Position: Guard
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Ideal 3-and-D role player who started a career-high 74 games in 2014-15
+ Consistently very good 3-point shooter. Can make plays off the dribble as needed
+ Reliable, though unspectacular defender. Poor rebounder
Analysis
With hindsight, Memphis getting Lee for Jerryd Bayless in a trade that also saw the teams swap second-round picks looks like an incredible steal. Lee has started 121 of his 126 games for the Grizzlies, fitting perfectly into their lineup as a role player while making a reserve's salary ($5.7 million this season). Expect him to get a big raise as an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Lee has brought Memphis much-needed shooting. His ratio of 3s to long 2s -- about 3 to 2 last season -- is still lower than it should be, but Lee made a career-high 90 triples at a 40.2 percent clip, the fourth time in seven years in the NBA that Lee has made between 40 and 41 percent of his 3-point tries. He's capable enough as a ballhandler to help relieve pressure on Mike Conley and to make a play when opponents close out too hard, and Lee has historically been a great finisher when he does get to the rim.
The "D" part of Lee's 3-and-D role is more up for interpretation. With the Grizzlies he's had the luxury of defending weaker wing options. At 6-foot-5, he wouldn't be big enough to defend many small forwards on a team that needed him to be its primary stopper on the perimeter. Lee's rebounding also became problematic last season, as he averaged just 3.7 rebounds per 36 minutes. But he's got good feet and can hold his own against most shooting guards and non-threatening small forwards.
Tony Allen
Position: Guard
Experience: 11 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ The best perimeter defender of his generation. Swallows up opposing perimeter players regardless of size or skill
+ Complete non-scorer. Not a threat from the perimeter whatsoever
+ Great teammate, but prone to baffling lapses of concentration
Analysis
By exposing his biggest weakness, the Golden State Warriors also revealed Allen's value. The Warriors' series with Memphis turned when they put center Andrew Bogut on Allen and told him to stay in the paint, leaving Allen all alone on the perimeter. Limited by a hamstring injury, Allen couldn't beat the defense, which clogged the paint for the Grizzlies. With him on the bench, Golden State's guards were able to get on track.
Earlier in the series, Allen made headlines by repeatedly yelling "First Team All-Defense!" during Memphis' Game 2 upset when he was miked up by TNT. Indeed, Allen deservedly earned his third First Team selection in the last four years. Allen makes gritty defense into an art form, frustrating opponents by never giving an inch and remaining glued to them. The Grizzlies' 94.9 defensive rating with Allen on the court was best for any player in the league, per NBA.com/Stats. He excels both at forcing missed shots (opponents shot 6.8 percentage points lower than normal with Allen as a primary defender, according to SportVU tracking on NBA.com/Stats) and forcing turnovers (his 4.1 steals per 100 opponent plays led the league).
Alas, as the Warriors exploited, Allen is not as productive when Memphis is on offense. He made 10 3-pointers all season, and opponents will roam free rather than following him beyond the arc. To his credit, Allen will make them pay as a cutter. His 151 points off cuts were the most of any perimeter player last season, per Synergy Sports tracking. Allen can also cause problems on the offensive glass when left alone, though that's mitigated by his inexplicable tendency to miss uncontested layups -- particularly in transition.
Zach Randolph
Position: Forward
Experience: 14 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Burly power forward who has aged well because his game relies more on skill and guile than quickness
+ Still good, though no longer great, offensive rebounder. Loves to isolate and use jab step and set shot
+ Underrated defensive player. Crowds opponents and frustrates them using his strength
Analysis
Observers keep waiting for Randolph to make some concession to age as he reaches his mid-30s, and Randolph keeps on defying it. In fact, 2014-15 was by almost any measure his best season since 2010-11, the last time he averaged 20 points per game. Randolph improved his efficiency, making 49.0 percent of his 2-point attempts after hovering around 47 percent the previous three years.
By now, the Randolph playbook is well established. He'll get easy buckets by physically overpowering opponents and pushing them under the basket, freeing him for offensive rebound putbacks. He can also use his strength to create enough room to get off shots in the post. Against bigger opponents, Randolph takes to the perimeter, where he can drive or use the threat of the drive (and repeated jab steps) to create enough space for his set-shot jumper.
Randolph is an underrated cog in the Grizzlies' defense. He did a terrific job on LaMarcus Aldridge in the playoffs, helping hold Aldridge to 33.0 percent shooting in Memphis 4-1 series win. Randolph achieved that by crowding Aldridge and giving him little airspace to utilize his superior size. Randolph isn't as effective when he's asked to cover ground defending pick-and-rolls, but he ranked among the top 10 power forwards in defensive impact by ESPN's real plus-minus.
Marc Gasol
Position: Center
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Enjoyed career season offensively after firmly establishing himself as Grizzlies' go-to guy for first time
+ Terrific high-post center with accurate set shot and the playmaking ability of a point guard
+ Heady defender. Only average as a shot-blocker but always in the right position and orchestrates teammates
Analysis
Gasol became an unrestricted free agent for the first time after the best season of his NBA career, which resulted in an All-NBA First Team nod. Gasol met only with the Grizzlies before quietly re-signing for five years and the maximum possible salary, slightly more than $113 million, to remain with the only team he's ever played for in the NBA.
The last two seasons have seen the Memphis offense shift from Zach Randolph as a focal point to Gasol as the first option. His usage rate, previously below the league average of 20 percent, increased to 21.7 percent in 2013-14 and 24.6 percent last season without any decline in Gasol's efficiency. He's almost equally dangerous in the low post as the high post. Closer to the basket, he favors a sweeping hook shot coming to the middle from the left block and ranked third in the league in points off post-ups according to Synergy Sports tracking. Gasol led the NBA with 13.0 touches per game at the elbow, according to SportVU tracking data on NBA.com/Stats. There, his court vision is paramount, along with a high-arcing set shot that is accurate almost to the 3-point line (but not beyond). Gasol's assist rate (5.3 per 100 plays) was tops among centers and better than starting point guard Dante Exum.
Two years removed from winning Defensive Player of the Year, Gasol hasn't earned an All-Defensive Team spot since. ESPN's real plus-minus lends that some credence, giving teammates more credit for the Grizzlies' defensive success. Never a big shot-blocker, Gasol has only rated about average as a rim protector. But he's an extremely intelligent defender who's always in the right place, and his communication helps keep the Memphis defense running smoothly.
Reserves
Jeff Green
Position: Forward
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Combo forward who put up strong per-game stats in Boston without impressing more advanced metrics
+ Jack of all trades, master of none offensively. Below-average 3-point shooter
+ Has physical tools to succeed defensively, but results have not matched up
Analysis
The Grizzlies hoped Green was their missing piece when they sent a first-round pick to the Boston Celtics to acquire Green in January, giving up forwards Tayshaun Prince and Quincy Pondexter. At first, that looked prescient as Memphis started 11-1 with Green in the lineup. But he never played well, and moved to the bench in the playoffs. The Grizzlies were ultimately outscored with Green on the court, and must find a way to better use his skills after he opted in to the final season of his contract.
Green had been the leading scorer on a young Boston team, averaging 16.9 points a game in 2013-14 and 17.6 last season before the trade. But efficiency eluded him in that role, and his true shooting percentage actually declined slightly (from .539 to .530) in a smaller role in Memphis. While Green has no shortage of offensive tools, including a post-up game and ball-handling ability, there's no one area in which he excels. And playing off the ball highlighted the fact that he's a below-average outside shooter, making 33.2 percent of his 3-point tries last season and 34.2 percent for his career. Green did have more success with the Grizzlies making cuts from the perimeter.
Defensively, Green looks the part, with the combination of size and quickness to play either forward spot. But Memphis allowed 10.4 more points per 100 possessions after the trade with Green on the court, per NBA.com/Stats. He was especially ineffective as an undersized 4, in large part because he's a below-average rebounder for a small forward. Still, the addition of Matt Barnes means Green will probably play more power forward this season.
Brandan Wright
Position: Forward
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Excellent pick-and-roll big man. One of the league's best finishers
+ Catches the ball well on the move and has soft touch around the basket. Also has post-up game using hook shots
+ Skinny frame a problem defending the post. Will block shots using long arms
Analysis
Wright started 2014-15 nearly perfect as a shooter. Wright made 19 of his first 21 shot attempts, and scarcely slowed down from there. At the time the Dallas Mavericks traded him to the Boston Celtics as part of the Rajon Rondo trade, Wright was shooting 74.8 percent from the field. Removed from the Dallas pick-and-roll game, Wright made "just" 57.9 percent of his shots with the Celtics and Phoenix Suns, but still finished with the league's third-highest field-goal percentage (64.2 percent) among players with at least 250 attempts. An unrestricted free agent at season's end, Wright signed with the Grizzlies for three years and $17-plus million and will back up both Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.
Always a high-percentage finisher, Wright found his ideal home with the Mavericks, shooting 64.4 percent during his three-plus years with the team. Over the last four seasons, Wright has the league's best shooting percentage inside three feet.
The Grizzlies won't offer the same kind of spacing or playmaking at point guard, but Wright should still find good looks. He has a soft touch around the basket even when he's unable to dunk or get layups, and showed some post-up ability in Phoenix using hook shots with either hand.
Wright's shortcoming is defense. At a listed 210 pounds, he can get pushed around in the post. Wright compensates to some extent with his length and shot-blocking ability, and Memphis can protect him defensively by using Randolph against the better post scorer when they're on the court together. Wright can also play with Gasol, whose ability to space the floor will open things up for Wright inside.
Matt Barnes
Position: Forward
Experience: 11 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Rugged, occasionally reckless defender who has carved out a long career despite average physical tools
+ Average-ish 3-point shooter whose touch deserted him in the playoffs. Best in transition game
+ At 35, slowing a bit defensively. Perhaps overmatched as a primary stopper
Analysis
The fit with Barnes and the Grit-'n-Grind Grizzlies seems so perfect it's amazing it took so long to happen. Barnes had been a playoff rival with the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 30 points as Memphis eliminated the Clips in six games in 2013. But when Doc Rivers traded Barnes to the Charlotte Hornets, presumably knowing the Clippers would sign Paul Pierce as a replacement, the Grizzlies benefited. A series of trades saw them turn the rights to 2013 second-round pick Janis Timma into Barnes, who will make a reasonable $3.5 million in the final season of his contract.
Asked to be a stopper in L.A., Barnes now finds himself part of Memphis' fleet of perimeter defenders. That's probably a better role for him at this stage of his career. Barnes has always relied on toughness and determination more than size to defend elite small forwards, and to maintain his quickness he slimmed down last season. Still, he ranked among the top 10 defenders at the position by ESPN's real plus-minus, and he'll be a defensive asset in what is likely to be a reserve role.
There was hand-wringing in L.A. after Barnes struggled as a shooter in the preseason, but he ended up making a career-best 136 3-pointers at a 36.2 percent clip. The Grizzlies should probably expect Barnes to return closer to his career 33.8 percent mark beyond the arc. He'll be more effective in transition if Memphis looks for him in early offense. According to Synergy Sports tracking, the former All-American wide receiver in high school pulled in enough passes to score 238 points in transition -- far more than Courtney Lee, who led the Grizzlies with 170.
Beno Udrih
Position: Guard
Experience: 11 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Pick-and-roll point guard who is a dangerous in-between scorer
+ Below-average playmaker. Left-hand dominant
+ Battles defensively, but gives up quickness to most point guards
Analysis
Udrih struggled so badly in a half season with the New York Knicks that he was waived, but since Memphis claimed him off waivers in February 2014, Udrih has found a good home as a backup to Mike Conley. He'll make $2.2 million this season in the second year of a two-year contract.
As a starter, Udrih's limitations as a facilitator can be problematic. Off the bench, however, the Grizzlies are fine turning him loose as a scorer. Udrih is difficult to defend in the pick-and-roll game, where he likes to create some separation and pull up off the dribble. Among players with at least 100 attempts between 10 and 16 feet, only Gorgui Dieng was more accurate than Udrih (54.1 percent), per Basketball-Reference.com. Since Udrih rarely gets all the way to the basket on drives, those pull-ups are crucial for him to score efficiently. His accuracy declines quickly with distance, and Udrih shot just 26.8 percent from beyond the arc, the lowest mark of his career.
A reserve role also suits Udrih defensively. While he's strong and doesn't mind contact, Udrih has poor foot speed for a point guard. Granting he was battling a sprained ankle, Udrih got torched in the playoffs when Mike Conley was sidelined by a facial fracture. Playing next to Nick Calathes helped Udrih defensively last season -- Memphis allowed 15.4 fewer points per 100 possessions when Udrih played with Calathes, per NBA.com/Stats -- and his departure could expose Udrih's shortcomings.
Vince Carter
Position: Forward
Experience: 17 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Former superstar began to lose the battle with age last season. Was never healthy after offseason ankle surgery
+ Heavily dependent on 3-point shooting. Declined precipitously beyond arc
+ Still an intelligent passer. Wasn't overmatched defensively
Analysis
The Grizzlies gambled last summer that Vince Carter could keep holding off age, signing him to a three-year deal worth slightly more than $12 million. Coming off ankle surgery, Carter looked more like Half-Man, Half-Retired during his first season with Memphis. Now 38, Carter may have a tough time bouncing back.
Before last season, Carter had done an admirable job of transitioning from superstar to role player, relying on his shooting and passing ability when his athleticism waned. His 3-point touch abandoned him in Memphis, as Carter made 29.7 percent beyond the arc, his lowest mark since shooting 28.8 percent as a rookie. Nearly 60 percent of Carter's shot attempts were 3s, so he badly needs to rebound as a shooter. Carter's court vision and high basketball IQ haven't deteriorated, but unless he's a threat as a scorer it's tough for him to be a productive distributor from the wing.
Surprisingly given his foot issues -- he also missed all of February with an injured tendon in his left foot -- Carter held his own defensively. His size helps him against shooting guards and Carter's intelligence and experience helped him fit into the Grizzlies' scheme.
Jordan Adams
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ High-scoring shooting guard played sparingly as a rookie
+ Capable outside shooter. Can also create his own shot off the dribble
+ Excellent steal rate, but must improve individual defense to crack rotation
Analysis
First-round pick Adams saw just 248 minutes of action for Memphis as a rookie, little surprise given the veterans ahead of him on the depth chart. With the arrival of Matt Barnes, Adams may face a more difficult path to the rotation in year two. He'll also be working back from surgery on his right knee, described as "minor" by the Commercial Appeal.
Adams' scoring potential was on display in 11 D-League games, which saw him average 18.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. At this point, outside shooting may be Adams' best NBA skill. He hit 38.3 percent of his triples in the D-League, and 10-of-25 (40 percent) in limited action with the Grizzlies. In time, Adams figures to excel at creating his own shot and getting in the paint, as he did at UCLA. He's not as effective at setting up teammates.
Scouts questioned Adams' ability to defend NBA wings. He wasn't in peak shape in college and is a particularly poor leaper -- his vertical was measured at a paltry 29.5 inches at the NBA pre-draft combine. However, he's relatively quick and uses his anticipation to rack up steals in bunches -- 2.3 per 36 minutes in NBA games last season. Improvement at the nuances of individual defense will help Adams earn more playing time.
JaMychal Green
Position: Forward
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ D-League star who got first NBA opportunity last season
+ Long, athletic power forward looking to add NBA 3-point range
+ Good rebounder, particularly on the offensive glass
Analysis
The Grizzlies signed D-League star JaMychal Green in February to mess with scorekeepers, who must now distinguish between a pair of players named "J. Green" on their roster. This Green had a brief cameo with the San Antonio Spurs before sticking with Memphis on a multi-year contract for the veteran's minimum that is $150,000 guaranteed entering training camp. He's still a favorite to win a roster spot and might help the Grizzlies more than their other young players.
Green had been dominating with the Austin Spurs in the D-League, averaging 23.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Strictly an interior player at Alabama, where he finished his career in 2012, Green has to be more of a stretch big in the NBA at 6-foot-8. He shot six 3s in 164 minutes of play, though he didn't make any of them. Green's wingspan -- measured at 7-foot-2 1/4 at the NBA draft combine -- helps him play bigger defensively, and he's a strong rebounder at both ends.
Jarell Martin
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Athletic, combo forward taken by the Grizzlies in the first round
+ Developing outside shooter. Not a good enough ballhandler to play on the wing
+ Must improve rebounding to stick at power forward
Analysis
Memphis made LSU forward Jarell Martin the 25th overall pick in June. The former McDonald's High School All-American made a big leap between his freshman and sophomore campaigns before declaring for the draft, but probably has a ways to go before contributing in the NBA. Martin missed out on the Orlando Pro Summer League with a stress fracture in his foot and then broke his left foot in a September workout. Surgery will keep him out through the start of the regular season and figures to slow his development.
Martin has been advertised as a combo forward, but his performance at LSU suggests he's much more likely to end up at power forward. He shot 30.8 percent in his two-year career from the college 3-point line and had a 0.61 assist-to-turnover ratio. Martin was more effective inside, particularly as a sophomore, when he improved his free throw rate to better than one for every two field goal attempts and was dramatically better on the glass -- though still only average for an NCAA power forward. His athleticism is NBA-caliber, but Martin still has to harness it as a rebounder and shot-blocker.
Jarnell Stokes
Position: Forward
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Burly, undersized post player with good quickness for his large frame
+ Strong finisher. Major presence on the offensive glass
+ Must prove he can defend NBA power forwards on the perimeter
Analysis
While Stokes played just 168 minutes in the NBA as a rookie, his D-League performance reaffirmed the skills that convinced the Grizzlies to trade into the second round of the 2014 draft to select him. When he wasn't involved in a bizarre fight with teammate Kalin Lucas on the bench that left both players suspended, Stokes averaged 15.1 points and 11.3 rebounds for the Iowa Energy, shooting 61.7 percent from the field. His combination of girth and quickness makes Stokes a problem for opponents on the offensive glass, and he's a powerful finisher around the basket on putbacks and duck-ins. Even in his NBA action, which included two starts with Zach Randolph out of the lineup, Stokes shot 56.8 percent from the field.
To stay on the court and showcase his offensive skill, Stokes is going to have to find a defensive position. He's just 6-foot-8 and not much of a shot-blocker, so Stokes can't play center in the NBA. At the same time, he's more comfortable defending inside and figures to struggle if he's asked to chase stretch 4s around the perimeter. Stokes showed the ability to corral the pick-and-roll and keep guards in front of him, a positive defensively.
Russ Smith
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ High-scoring point guard learning how to control an NBA game from the position
+ Can get into the paint almost at will, allowing him to score or set up teammates
+ Pressure defender whose high steal rate fits in well with the Grizzlies
Analysis
After drafting two players in 2014, Memphis added Smith as a third draft pick via trade from the New Orleans Pelicans midway through his rookie season. Smith spent much of the rest of the year in the D-League, seeing just 36 minutes of action for the Grizzlies, but the team decided to guarantee his 2015-16 salary after Smith led them to victory in the Orlando Pro Summer League. With Nick Calathes' departure, Smith enters the season as Memphis' third point guard.
Better known during his standout career at Louisville as "Russdiculous," Smith had some ridiculous per-minute stats with the Grizzlies, scoring 25 points in his 36 minutes. With the better spacing of the NBA floor, Smith is almost impossible to contain off the dribble. The key to his development is making the right play when he does get in the paint. Smith definitely looks to score first -- he averaged just 5.0 assists per 36 minutes in 18 D-league games -- and he's prone to turnovers. He has yet to prove he can finish over NBA defenders, though he was surprisingly effective at getting to the free throw line. On defense, Smith's quickness allows him to pick up full court. He's always had high steal rates, which is in line with what Memphis wants to do defensively.
We've buried the lead on the highlight of Smith's offseason. He adopted a cat, Mr. Quackers, who has his own Instagram account with more than a thousand followers.