2019 Memphis Grizzlies Betting Storylines

It is not going to be a particularly inspiring season in Memphis, and the Grizzlies have all but locked up the fifth spot in the Southwest Division - and one of the bottom two, or three at best, in the West. A squad built for seemingly ever around a core of Marc Gasol and Mike Conley suddenly has neither after Gasol was traded last season and Conley this summer. It's a full on rebuild. But, while the present isn't going to be much, the future is a lot brighter than it could be. They are building a nice young core, and with some luck and some patience they could get back into things without too much time. They need to hope, though, that their rebuild looks a lot more like what the Nuggets have pulled off than what Minnesota is suffering through - and it's a fine line.

2019 Memphis Grizzlies Additions and Departures

We have to start with Conley. The foundational point guard for the team is gone after 12 seasons in Memphis. He's coming off a season in which he rebounded from a lost year to injuries in 2017-18, and he posted a career high in points - though that was as much because if he didn't score then no one would as anything. Conley gave his all to this team and was a big part of the success they had. Now he is in Utah , taking over at the point for one of the most exciting teams in the ridiculously deep conference. In exchange, they got a package much heavier in players than picks. They added Grayson Allen, Kyle Korver, Jae Crowder, the draft rights to Darius Bazley, the 23rd pick, and a protected first-rounder next year. Allen is still on the roster, and Crowder is too, for now, though his contract will likely be flipped at some point. But the team spun the rest into more. They sent Bazley, a high ceiling guy who is tough to read because he skipped college and didn't play at all last year, and a second-round pick, for Brandon Clarke of Gonzaga, who had been picked 21st. And they sent Korver and Jevon Carter to Phoenix for a package of Josh Jackson, De'Anthony Melton, and two second-round picks. Korver was bought out by Phoenix.

That wasn't the end of the dealing. They traded C.J. Miles to Washington for Dwight Howard, then bought out the big man. They sent Chandler Parsons to Atlanta for Solomon Hill and Miles Plumlee. And they sent Julian Washburn to Golden State for a protected first-round pick in 2024 and Andre Iguodala, who the Warriors had to move on from so they could add D'Angelo Russell. Iguodala understandably isn't keen to be part of the rebuild in Memphis and is back on the block - likely heading to a Western contender. As if that all wasn't enough, they sent Delon Wright to Dallas in a sign and trade, adding two future second-round picks and the rights to a past second-rounder who will never play in the league. To wrap things up, they let Avery Bradley leave after waiving him and added Tyus Jones in free agency. So, to sum up, they got solid value for Conley, then out the rest of the depth of the roster in a blender. It was a solid enough summer.

Two other moves stand out as perhaps the most important. First, they hired another new head coach - their third since 2016. 35-year-old Taylor Jenkins is a guy on the rise most recently spending a year as an assistant in Milwaukee after a run in Atlanta. In his first act as head man, he led the team to a Summer League victory, so we at least know he can connect with young guys.

More significantly, the team added Ja Morant with the second overall pick. The Murray state guard stunned people with his play in college last year - especially in the postseason. There could be some bumps as he learns how to play in this league, but the guy can score like crazy, and he's very smart with the ball. In he and sophomore Jaren Jackson - along with Clarke, who was the MVP of the Summer League and could be a steal - the team has the makings of a core of stars they could build around.

2019 Memphis Grizzlies Futures Odds and Trends

Memphis Grizzlies Futures Odds

NBA title odds : +25000

Western Conference title odds : +15000

Southwest Division title odds: +10000

Season win total: 26.5

Will the Memphis Grizzlies make the playoffs: Yes +800, No -1250

The team was as lackluster at the betting window as they were on the scoreboard last year, going 39-43 ATS. There were slightly better profits to be made betting the under, though - they went under the total 44 times and over just 37.

2019 Memphis Grizzlies Predictions and Futures Odds Picks

The trio of Jackson, Morant and Clarke is easy to get excited about. They have some nice assets to work with in the short term like Iguodala and Crowder, too. And they did some solid roster juggling. I like where the team is heading. But they are ridiculously young, still not very deep, and in an absolutely brutal conference. You can't judge this team by what they do this year. It just doesn't matter. All you want to see is forward progress. If they get that then in a few years, they could be causing nightmares. But for now, they just need to get their key guys some experience, figure out what they have in their many other young pieces, and keep building towards the future. And if they spend any time at all worrying about the standings this year, then they are doing it wrong.

Doc's Sports is offering $60 worth of member's picks absolutely free - no obligation, no sales people - you don't even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit any way you please on any of our top NBA handicappers. Get $60 worth of premium members' picks free . Also, for a limited time only get three top NBA handicappers for the price of one! Click Here . Get free NBA picks today at Doc's Sports basketball predictions page.

Read more articles by Trevor Whenham

2019 Memphis Grizzlies Betting Storylines

It is not going to be a particularly inspiring season in Memphis, and the Grizzlies have all but locked up the fifth spot in the Southwest Division - and one of the bottom two, or three at best, in the West. A squad built for seemingly ever around a core of Marc Gasol and Mike Conley suddenly has neither after Gasol was traded last season and Conley this summer. It's a full on rebuild. But, while the present isn't going to be much, the future is a lot brighter than it could be. They are building a nice young core, and with some luck and some patience they could get back into things without too much time. They need to hope, though, that their rebuild looks a lot more like what the Nuggets have pulled off than what Minnesota is suffering through - and it's a fine line.

2019 Memphis Grizzlies Additions and Departures

We have to start with Conley. The foundational point guard for the team is gone after 12 seasons in Memphis. He's coming off a season in which he rebounded from a lost year to injuries in 2017-18, and he posted a career high in points - though that was as much because if he didn't score then no one would as anything. Conley gave his all to this team and was a big part of the success they had. Now he is in Utah , taking over at the point for one of the most exciting teams in the ridiculously deep conference. In exchange, they got a package much heavier in players than picks. They added Grayson Allen, Kyle Korver, Jae Crowder, the draft rights to Darius Bazley, the 23rd pick, and a protected first-rounder next year. Allen is still on the roster, and Crowder is too, for now, though his contract will likely be flipped at some point. But the team spun the rest into more. They sent Bazley, a high ceiling guy who is tough to read because he skipped college and didn't play at all last year, and a second-round pick, for Brandon Clarke of Gonzaga, who had been picked 21st. And they sent Korver and Jevon Carter to Phoenix for a package of Josh Jackson, De'Anthony Melton, and two second-round picks. Korver was bought out by Phoenix.

That wasn't the end of the dealing. They traded C.J. Miles to Washington for Dwight Howard, then bought out the big man. They sent Chandler Parsons to Atlanta for Solomon Hill and Miles Plumlee. And they sent Julian Washburn to Golden State for a protected first-round pick in 2024 and Andre Iguodala, who the Warriors had to move on from so they could add D'Angelo Russell. Iguodala understandably isn't keen to be part of the rebuild in Memphis and is back on the block - likely heading to a Western contender. As if that all wasn't enough, they sent Delon Wright to Dallas in a sign and trade, adding two future second-round picks and the rights to a past second-rounder who will never play in the league. To wrap things up, they let Avery Bradley leave after waiving him and added Tyus Jones in free agency. So, to sum up, they got solid value for Conley, then out the rest of the depth of the roster in a blender. It was a solid enough summer.

Two other moves stand out as perhaps the most important. First, they hired another new head coach - their third since 2016. 35-year-old Taylor Jenkins is a guy on the rise most recently spending a year as an assistant in Milwaukee after a run in Atlanta. In his first act as head man, he led the team to a Summer League victory, so we at least know he can connect with young guys.

More significantly, the team added Ja Morant with the second overall pick. The Murray state guard stunned people with his play in college last year - especially in the postseason. There could be some bumps as he learns how to play in this league, but the guy can score like crazy, and he's very smart with the ball. In he and sophomore Jaren Jackson - along with Clarke, who was the MVP of the Summer League and could be a steal - the team has the makings of a core of stars they could build around.

2019 Memphis Grizzlies Futures Odds and Trends

Memphis Grizzlies Futures Odds

NBA title odds : +25000

Western Conference title odds : +15000

Southwest Division title odds: +10000

Season win total: 26.5

Will the Memphis Grizzlies make the playoffs: Yes +800, No -1250

The team was as lackluster at the betting window as they were on the scoreboard last year, going 39-43 ATS. There were slightly better profits to be made betting the under, though - they went under the total 44 times and over just 37.

2019 Memphis Grizzlies Predictions and Futures Odds Picks

The trio of Jackson, Morant and Clarke is easy to get excited about. They have some nice assets to work with in the short term like Iguodala and Crowder, too. And they did some solid roster juggling. I like where the team is heading. But they are ridiculously young, still not very deep, and in an absolutely brutal conference. You can't judge this team by what they do this year. It just doesn't matter. All you want to see is forward progress. If they get that then in a few years, they could be causing nightmares. But for now, they just need to get their key guys some experience, figure out what they have in their many other young pieces, and keep building towards the future. And if they spend any time at all worrying about the standings this year, then they are doing it wrong.

Doc's Sports is offering $60 worth of member's picks absolutely free - no obligation, no sales people - you don't even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit any way you please on any of our top NBA handicappers. Get $60 worth of premium members' picks free . Also, for a limited time only get three top NBA handicappers for the price of one! Click Here . Get free NBA picks today at Doc's Sports basketball predictions page.

Read more articles by Trevor Whenham