3. Memphis Grizzlies
Record (Last Season): 50-32
Key Addition(s): Vince Carter
Key Losses: Mike Miller, Ed Davis
It seems like we’ve heard this before and yet it remains true anyway; this could be the year the Griz finally win the West.
Or they could miss the playoffs.
Memphis kept the starting lineup intact that was one ill-advised punch from Zach Randolph away from possibly advancing past the OKC Thunder. They lost a steady scorer and rebounder in Miller (who took his talents to Cleveland) but dealt the Mavericks a blow by stealing Vince Carter, who continues to redefine his game even in his 359th year in the league (not really).
While Memphis started off the summer with some shaky drama, they’ve kept their Grit n’ Grind core intact. But should injuries take a toll and derail their run to the postseason, look for Marc Gasol’s expiring contract to create some buzz around the trade deadline.