Memphis Grizzlies: 3 potential outcomes for the 2021-22 season

Outcome No. 2: The Grizzlies get knocked out in the first round of the NBA Playoffs again

As mentioned, the Memphis Grizzlies lost a large portion of their offensive production from a season ago when they traded away Jonas Valanciunas. To replace it, they’ll have Jaren Jackson Jr. fill in, who is young, but extremely talented.

With Steven Adams filling in directly at the center spot, this Grizz team is destined to regress slightly offensively from the middle of the pack. Last year, Memphis finished 15th in scoring and offensive rating. The question here is whether their progressing players can fill in and make up for the lost production.

In all likelihood, the answer is no — at least to start the year. Memphis, as good as they looked in the preseason, will have to build team chemistry from the ground up with newbies in Ziaire Williams and Adams getting significant playing time.

In this scenario, the Grizzlies improve by the end of the season, but their push is too little, too late. The Grizzlies will win in the play-in tournament again, but with another 8-seed, their chances of winning will be extremely low.

It’ll be another exciting season and Ja Morant could even flirt with an NBA All-Star selection.