Memphis Grizzlies: Anything Is Possible In Regards To 2020 Playoff Hopes

The Memphis Grizzlies may not seem like a potential playoff team at the moment, but after this summer, maybe they will have a chance.

The Memphis Grizzlies are in the NBA lottery this year which means they are definitely not in the playoffs. Of course, the teams in the Lottery have the worst records in the League. It’s more than a stretch to say that the Memphis Grizzlies will be in the 2020 NBA playoffs or maybe it’s not.

The NBA season is over for all the teams not playing in the playoffs, but Memphis has a lot to be excited about! As a matter of fact, the Grizzlies are in a rather unusual position which further adds to the excitement and intrigue.

Why are they in an unusual position? Most of the fans (including myself) thought the Grizzlies would tank this year and the next, but the trade with Toronto kind of changed that plus the fact the Grizzlies needed to win as many games as we could so we could convey a draft pick to the Boston Celtics via the Jeff Green trade.

It turns out that the moves made by the former General Manager Chris Wallace might have been one of the best decisions he made since having a hand in drafting Jaren Jackson Jr. With the players acquired from Toronto and elsewhere the Grizzlies youth was restored and so was the excitement and the winning.

The Genesis of a Future Playoff Team

During the last part of the season, the Grizzlies handed several teams that are presently playing in the playoffs an unexpected loss and some of the losses we encountered we were still in the game until the very last part of the fourth quarter.

This team of misfits beat the likes of Portland, Utah, Orlando, OKC, and last but certainly not least the Golden State Warriors. Yes, from February 25 until the last game in April the Grizzlies had a record of 10-10. When you consider the caliber of teams they beat, it’s hard to see the Grizzlies even think about tanking. Keep in mind many of those teams were fighting for seeding in the playoffs and really needed to win in order to move up.

The rejuvenated Grizzlies to a certain extent have proven that they can play with the best teams in the NBA. Memphis would literally have to roll over and die in order to tank next season. Their impressive wins over some of the top teams came with just one starter (Mike Conley Jr.). Add Jarren Jackson, Jr., Kyle Anderson, and Dillon Brooks to the mix and you’ll have a team capable of playing in the 2020 NBA playoffs.

The summer has yet to start but if I was a betting man I’d bet the Grizzlies will come to terms with Jonas Valanciunas and Delon Wright. C.J. Miles has already opted to play for the Grizzlies at least one more year. The draft is coming up and anything is possible. The ping pong balls might just give us the number one pick and without question, we know that Zion Williamson would be wearing the Beale Street Blue if that was to happen. Don’t laugh, anything is possible.

Let’s just say we work out a deal to keep Joakim Noah, we sign Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, then we bring back Jevon Carter, Kyle Anderson, Dillion Brooks, Justin Holiday and Jaren Jackson Jr., Bruno Caboclo and C.J. Miles.

It would be a stretch to keep Avery Bradley (which I hope we do) and Mike Conley has already said (in so many words) that he wants to be a part of a team that has a chance of making the playoffs, so we should at least get two quality players in return for him and there you could have your 2020 NBA Playoff bound Memphis Grizzlies.

Let’s Be Realistic for the Upcoming Season

It’s almost impossible to accurately predict which teams (besides the Golden State Warriors) will be in the playoffs come April of 2020, but it’s fun to think about it! Sure some of the teams we beat in that stretch of going 10 and 10 were resting some of their star players.

The recent restructuring of the Grizzlies kind of throws a monkey wrench into an already unstable situation. J.B. Bickerstaff is gone and Chris Wallace has been demoted to scout, assistant coach and there have been several other movements within the organization. The chances of the Grizzlies getting a quality coach is limited.

There are several other more attractive coaching positions available and more than likely the Grizzlies will be lucky enough to get whoever is left. If you are a Grizzlies fan than you should be familiar with our mantra during that eight-year playoff run of “Believe Memphis.” Well, I’m a native Memphian and I believe.

Oh, you still don’t believe? That’s okay because nobody but Tiger Woods thought that he would win the 2019 Masters after having not won a major tournament in over eight years. For the Grizzlies it’s only been a couple of years since we were in the playoffs so guess what? Our mantra has not changed, “Believe Memphis.” So yes, with this team anything is possible.