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

Outcome No. 3: The Grizzlies exceed expectations and make their first NBA Playoff run since 2015

Realistically, this could be the most likely scenario for this Memphis Grizzlies basketball team.

The Grizzlies have all of the tools to take a big step forward in 2021-22. I have mentioned Steven Adams’ presence instead of Jonas Valanciunas a couple of times — I don’t think it’ll be too big of a dropoff from Jonas Valanciunas. Here’s why.

With the Pelicans, Adams was poor offensively. He was on a bad basketball team that was in the news for everything outside of basketball for the past couple of seasons. Earlier in his career with Westbrook as a teammate, Adams thrived offensively, averaging close to 14 points per game in two consecutive seasons with the Thunder.

Defensively, he’s an undeniable upgrade from Valanciunas, who was a defensive liability at times. If Adams can upgrade this Grizzlies defense down low, they’ll be virtually impossible to score on at times with Jaren Jackson Jr. beside him. Offensively, they’ll be losing out on one three-point shot per game by JV — not a horrible tradeoff.

In this scenario, the Grizzlies take a big step forward, earn automatic entrance to the NBA Playoffs with a five or six seed and knock off a team in the first round. Heck, at that point, the year would be considered a huge success.

If this did happen, we’d likely have to see either Ja Morant or JJJ make their first NBA All-Star Game appearance.