NBA: Re-seeding the Western Conference heading into 2019-20

Re-seeding the NBA’s Western Conference as we inch towards the 2019-20 season

Another year, another NBA summer, another superstar heading West.

Just when it seemed like the Western Conference couldn’t be any more loaded, Kawhi Leonard bolted from the NBA-champion Toronto Raptors and headed to Hollywood and the Los Angeles Clippers. With two new superteams in LA and the long-reigning Warriors depleted, the West is wide open but wildly competitive once again.

As every team (well, maybe not quite EVERY team) races to steal the crown from Golden State, we’ll be re-seeding the Western Conference based on the offseason action. The following rankings are a prediction of how the standings will look at the end of the regular season, with every team ordered and split into tiers.

Tier 5: The Rebuilding

15. Memphis Grizzlies

Last season: 33-49, 12th in Western Conference

Notable additions: Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke, Tyus Jones, Jae Crowder

Notable subtractions: Mike Conley, Avery Bradley, Delon Wright, Justin Holiday

The Memphis Grizzlies have had some of the biggest roster turnover in the league this offseason, and after several seasons in NBA purgatory they’ve finally committed to a full rebound around their young talent. While that’s a smart move in the long-term, it may see them struggle in the coming season.

Jaren Jackson Jr. showed last year that he is a building block for the future, with a rare combination of shooting touch and rim protection. He and No. 2 draft pick Ja Morant will be a formidable duo down the road, but there will be some rocky games as Morant learns the ropes of running an NBA offense.

With former franchise player Mike Conley traded to Utah, Morant will be thrown into the fire and given plenty of reps as a rookie. He should be allowed to play through his mistakes, which will lead to some breathtaking highlights but also a fair amount of the mistakes that are expected from a young point guard.

Brandon Clarke was a savvy selection with the 21st pick in the draft, and he may be more NBA-ready than most expected. After claiming Summer League MVP honors and leading Memphis to the championship in Vegas, he should provide some unexpected depth in the frontcourt and fight for minutes with veterans Jae Crowder and Miles Plumlee.

There are some older heads on the roster, with Crowder, Plumlee, Solomon Hill and Andre Iguodala all currently signed. It’s hard to know how much they will play, or even how long they will remain with the team before trades or buyouts, leaving Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Anderson as the only elder statesmen guaranteed to play important minutes. Valanciunas was a near 20-10 player after arriving in Memphis and should be a steadying presence in the middle, while Anderson struggled to stay healthy and was solid but unspectacular last season.

There’s plenty of raw talent on this Grizzlies roster, but it will most likely be a few years before it fully comes to fruition. Don’t be surprised to see this team steal some upset wins in the coming season, though, and establish themselves as a worthy league pass look-in.