Memphis Grizzlies: 5 Big Questions Heading Into 2018-19

4. Who will spread the floor?

If “spacing” is not the trendiest NBA buzzword right now, it is definitely near the top of the heap. Unfortunately for Memphis, an issue that has plagued them for ages could return in 2018-19.

The Grizzlies were pretty awful from behind the arc last year. They ranked 24th in threes attempted, and 25th in three-point percentage. Without significant upgrades, defenses would be able to easily collapse on their halfcourt sets, smothering an inside attack.

The jury is still out on whether those upgrades arrived. While several sharpshooters were seemingly available in free agency, Memphis relatively whiffed.

Omri Casspi is a shooter by reputation, but attempted just 22 threes in 53 games last season (in Golden State of all places). Garrett Temple’s career 3PT% history is a scatter plot anywhere between .392 and .207. 86% of Kyle Anderson’s shots last year were inside the arc.

The flipside to that is the return of Mike Conley, who, when last healthy in 2016-17, turned himself into an elite shooter. Conley connected on almost 41% of 6.4 three attempts per game. He shot more threes than J.J. Redick or Kyle Korver, and sunk them at a better rate than Kyrie Irving or Bradley Beal.

The inherent problem is that Conley cannot be both conducting a pick-‘n’-roll and spacing the floor at the same time. He needs shooters around him to keep defenses honest, and nail threes on kick-outs. The same can be said of Marc Gasol, who is far too dynamic offensively to be used as just a stretch threat.

Chandler Parsons shot very well from distance last year (.421 on 3.4 attempts/game), but canno be counted on for consistent health. Perhaps the answer lies with Jaren Jackson Jr, who showed a propensity for the long-ball in Summer League. Which leads conveniently to…