30-year old Zach Randolph just keeps getting better and the Grizzlies hope that trend continues.  He played in 75 games (74 starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 36.3 minutes, 20.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.  Randolph has now played in 662 games (534 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 31.7 minutes, 17.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.  23-year old Darrell Arthur is just biding his time backing up Zach Randolph.  Arthur played in 80 games (9 starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 20.1 minutes, 9.1  points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  He has now played in 188 games (173 starts) in his first three years with the Grizzlies and he is averaging 18.8 minutes, 6.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

25-year old Rudy Gay has really turned into one of the best small forwards in the NBA and the Grizzlies need him to keep up the good work in 2011-12.  Gay played in 54 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 39.9 minutes, 19.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game.  He has now played in 372 games (336 starts) in his first five years with the Grizzlies and he is averaging 36.0 minutes, 17.8 points, 5.6  rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

29-year old Tony Allen will likely be the starting at shooting guard when the 2011-12 season begins.  He played in 72 games (31 starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 20.8 minutes, 8.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game.  Allen also shot 51% from the floor last year as he took a lot of good shots.  Allen has now played in 408 games (113 starts) in his first 7 years in the NBA and he is averaging 18.8 minutes, 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  24-year old O.J. Mayo was actually dealt to the Pacers for forward Josh McRoberts, but the paper work didn’t get to the league office in time.  Don’t be shocked if the Grizzlies deal Mayo before the season starts.  Mayo played in 71 games (17 starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 26.3 minutes, 11.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  He has now played in 235 games (181 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 34.5 minutes, 16.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  20-year old Xavier Henry was a first round pick of the Grizzlies in 2010.  He played in 38 games (16 starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 13.9 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.5 assists per game.  Look for his playing time to increase if the Grizzlies deal O.J. Mayo.  20-year old rookie Josh Selby was a 2nd round pick out of Kansas last June.  He’s pretty raw so it’s going to take some time likely in the D-League before he’s ready to play in the NBA.

24-year old Mike Conley has been solid since the day he arrived in Memphis and he keeps getting better.  Conley played in 81 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 35.5 minutes, 13.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game.  He has now played in 296 games (268 starts) in his first four years with the Grizzlies and he is averaging 31.5 minutes, 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  Look for Conley to have another good year for the Grizzlies in 2011-12, if there is one.  24-year old Greivis Vasquez had a rough time during the regular season as a rookie for the Grizzlies last year.  He played in 70 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 12.3 minutes, 3.6 points, 1.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.  Vasquez really improved in the playoffs last year and the Grizzlies hope that carries over into this season.  23-year old Ishmael Smith came over in a deal with the Rockets last year.  He played in 43 games (3 starts) as a rookie for the Rockets & Grizzlies last year and he averaged 10.3 minutes, 2.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.  Smith is clearly #3 in line for the Grizzlies this year.

57-year old head coach Lionel Hollins was a solid leader for the Grizzlies last year as he coached up his team. The Grizzlies have one of the best starting fives in all of the NBA and Hollins got them to play team basketball. The Grizzlies were 40-42 (48.8%) last season and they still have not yet got to .500 in Memphis. This year is going to break that trend in a big way. Hollins has a 71-114 (38.4%) career record in parts of four years with the Grizzlies both in Vancouver and Memphis. He has yet to coach in a NBA Playoff Game but I think that changes this year.

25-year old Marc Gasol is the starting center for the Grizzlies’ and he’s the old man of the crew. He played in 69 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 35.8 minutes, 14.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.6 blocked shots per game. Gasol has now played in 151 games (144 starts) in his two years with the Grizzlies and he has averaged 33.0 minutes, 13.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Gasol has turned himself into one of the better centers in the NBA and I look for him to have another big year in 2010-11 for the Grizzlies.

23-year old Hasheem Thabeet will likely be the #2 center for the Grizzlies this year. Thabeet was actually sent to the D-League for a little while last season and when he was returned he was more focused. Thabeet played in 68 games (13 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 13.0 minutes, 3.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Thabeet can rebound and play defense right now, but the Grizzlies hope he improves on offense this year.

25-year old Hamed Haddadi will be #3 at center for the Grizzlies this year. Haddadi played in 36 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 6.7 minutes, 1.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. He has now played in 55 games (0 starts) in two years with the Grizzlies and he has averaged 6.5 minutes, 2.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GRIZZLIES CENTERS IN 2010-11: B

29-year old power forward Zach Randolph was a double-double machine for the Grizzlies last season. He played in 81 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 37.7 minutes, 20.8 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Randolph has now played in 587 games (460 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 31.1 minutes, 17.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Randolph has a nice and soft lefty jumpshot from the baseline and he’s a great rebounder so the Grizzlies are hoping for another big year out of him.

22-year old Darrell Arthur missed a lot of last season due to injury. Arthur played in 32 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 14.3 minutes, 4.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. He has now played in 108 games (64 starts) in his two years with the Grizzlies and he has averaged 17.8 minutes, 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. The Grizzlies hope that Arthur steps up this year.

24-year old DeMarre Carroll is #3 in line for minutes at power forward for the Grizzlies. Carroll played in 71 games (1 start) as a rookie for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 11.2 minutes, 2.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. He had big problems shooting the ball as a rookie hitting only 39.6% from the floor and 62.3% from the free throw line. Until his shooting improves it’s hard to see him playing much.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GRIZZLIES POWER FORWARDS IN 2010-11: A

The Grizzlies’ front office stepped up over the summer signing 24-year old small forward Rudy Gay to a max deal. Now it’s Gay’s turn to repay the Grizzlies’ faith in him. Gay played in 80 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 39.7 minutes, 19.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He has now played in 318 games (282 starts) in his four years with the Grizzlies and he has averaged 35.3 minutes, 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. I look for Gay to step up and be even better than he was in 2009-10 this year.

25-year old Sam Young will be Gay’s backup this year once again. Young played in 80 games (1 start) as a rookie for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 16.5 minutes, 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. The Grizzlies hope that Young keeps up the good work in 2010-11 as he had a solid rookie year.

30-year old Damien Wilkins might get some P.T. here if he makes the team. Wilkins played in 80 games (31 starts) for the T-Wolves last season and he averaged 19.8 minutes, 5.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He has now played in 390 games (126 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 20.9 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GRIZZLIES SMALL FORWARDS IN 2010-11: A

The Grizzlies suddenly have a lot of quality depth at shooting guard behind starter O.J. Mayo and that’s a good thing. 22-year old O.J. Mayo played in all 82 games (82 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 38.0 minutes, 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He has now played in 164 games (all starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he has averaged 38.0 minutes, 18.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Mayo is very dependable and he’s very consistent which is two qualities the Grizzlies’ front office savors about him.

The Grizzlies signed 28-year old Tony Allen to back up Mayo this year. Allen played in 54 games (8 starts) for the Celtics last season and he averaged 16.5 minutes, 6.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has now played in 336 games (82 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 18.4 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Allen can also back up at small forward and he has been looking for minutes so don’t be surprised if he really excels for the Grizzlies.

Rookie 19-year old Xavier Henry will likely be brought along slowly by the Grizzlies. He played in 36 games at Kansas last season and he averaged 27.5 minutes, 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Henry also shot 41.8% from three point range last season at Kansas.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GRIZZLIES SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2010-11: B+

The Grizzlies are three deep at point guard with talented players that are each 25 years old and younger. 22-year old Mike Conley will be the starter but he’s not a pure point guard by any means. He played in 80 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 32.1 minutes, 12.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Conley has now played in 215 games (187 starts) in his 3 years with the Grizzlies and he is averaging 30.0 minutes, 10.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Conley will have to play at a high level because the Grizzlies used a first round pick on a point guard to push him.

23-year old rookie Greivis Vasquez will open the year as Mike Conley’s back-up but he could really start pushing him for minutes in the second half of the year. Vasquez played in 33 games for Maryland last season and he averaged 33.9 minutes, 19.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He played all four years in college at Maryland appearing in 136 games in which he has averaged 33.6 minutes, 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Even if Vasquez comes off the bench all year long he will give the Grizzlies solid minutes.

25-year old Acie Law was signed on to be the #3 guy at point guard for the Grizzlies this year. Law played in 26 games (1 start) for the Warriors, Bobcats & Bulls last year in which he averaged 9.0 minutes, 4.3 points, 0.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. He has now played in 137 games (8 starts) in his three years in the NBA and he has averaged 12.1 minutes, 3.7 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.6 assists per game. Law was a first round pick just three years ago so he might have an untapped upside.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GRIZZLIES POINT GUARDS IN 2010-11: B-