Every Grizzlies member found on ESPN's awards predictions (and why they can win)

Last season proved to be one of the most challenging stretches in recent history for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Directly following up their second-seeded finish from the year before, this team went a putrid 27-55 through 82 games played and fell on the outside looking in on the playoff picture for the first time in four years.

In most cases, this outcome and low level of success may prove to be quite discouraging for a franchise and its fanbase, but not Memphis, as the bulk of their issues stemmed from uncontrollable factors such as key player absences and health-related issues.

Because of this, 2023-24 has widely been considered a gap year for Grind City, and, subsequently, 2024-25 is being looked at as an opportunity for the club to bounce back in a big way.

The folks at ESPN seem to be rather big on this idea of a redemption run for the organization, as they recently penned a piece predicting who will be in the running for this year's major awards, and many Grizzlies members were found mentioned along the way.

While not all are being viewed as favorites to win the titles their names were attached to, each have rather strong cases to do so once voting season arrives.

Every Grizzlies member mentioned in ESPN's awards predictions piece

Ja Morant: MVP

Rank: No. 9

For the Grizzlies to find themselves partaking in a bounce-back season, Ja Morant will without question need to be the driving force that he's proven to be throughout his five-year career with the organization.

During his tenure and in every full season played out in Grind City, the point guard has only proven capable of helping guide the club to enviable heights as a collective and has received numerous accolades for his efforts.

Starting his career off with the illustrious Rookie of the Year moniker, and then following it up with the Most Improved Player award the next season, Morant has advanced upon his play with each passing season.

During the previous two campaigns heading into their disastrous 2023-24 run, the point guard led Memphis to a combined 107 wins, two second-seed finishes in the conference standings, and, in 2021-22, their fourth semifinal appearance in franchise history.

Along the way, Ja posted stellar all-around averages of 16.8 points, 7.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals on 47.9 percent shooting from the floor while earning two straight All-Star nods, his first All-NBA selection, and two top-12 finishes in the MVP race.

Now, with him returning to a team that was lottery-bound with him sidelined for the majority of last year due to suspension and injuries, Morant seems to be coming in with revenge and redemption on his mind and is already sending warning signals to the rest of the league as he works his way back to full strength.

Should he be able to pick up where he left off prior to shoulder surgery (remember, during his nine games played he was playing lights out while the Grizzlies were boasting a record of 6-3), and the team's success rate resembles that of 2022-23, the 25-year-old being accompanied by this come-back narrative will have a strong case to take home the Michael Jordan trophy come year's end.