24-year old small forward Sam Young had the best rookie year from this year’s crop. Young played in 80 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies this season and he averaged 16.5 minutes, 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He might develop into a starter down the road for the Grizzlies. 23-year old center Hasheem Thabeet was so bad earlier this season that he was sent to the D-League for a while. He did come back from the minors playing a lot better so maybe his demotion did him some good. Thabeet played in 68 games (13 starts) for the Grizzlies this year and he averaged 13.0 minutes, 3.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. With Marc Gasol entrenched in the starting lineup for the near future they just hope that Thabeet will be able to give them good defense and rebounding in 15-20 minutes per game for now. 23-year old power forward DeMarre Carroll is in kind of the same boat as Thabeet. He played in 71 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 11.2 minutes, 2.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. As long as Carroll gives the Grizzlies decent defense and rebounding off the bench they will be happy. 25-year old shooting guard Lester Hudson came over as a free agent after the Celtics released him. Hudson played in 9 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 6.8 minutes, 4.0 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Overall, Hudson played in 25 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies & Celtics in which he averaged 5.2 minutes, 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. He might have a hard time making the team next season.

If the Grizzlies are going to make a run for the playoffs they need to get more from their rookies who get a lot of the bench minutes for the team. Forward Sam Young has played the best ball of the rookies this season for the Grizzlies. He has played in 54 games (1 start) in which he has averaged 16.2 minutes, 7.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Power forward DeMarre Carroll needs to step up if he wants to keep getting P.T. Carroll has played in 52 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies this season and he is averaging 11.9 minutes, 3.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game on 39.3% shooting from the floor. The Grizzlies are bringing center Hasheem Thabeet along slowly. He has played in 50 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies this season and he is averaging 10.3 minutes, 2.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.1 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. On the plus side, Thabeet is shooting 58% from the floor this year. Shooting guard Lester Hudson started the season with the Celtics. He has played in 8 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies and he is averaging 7.4 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game on 38.2% shooting from the floor. Overall for the Celtics & Grizzlies, Hudson has played in 24 games (0 starts) in which he is averaging 5.4 minutes, 2.3 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

The Grizzlies are happy with their back-up front court crew of rookies this year so far. Small forward Sam Young has been the best of this bunch so far this season. He has played in 34 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies so far this season and he is averaging 17.4 minutes, 8.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Power forward DeMarre Carroll is not shooting too well this season hitting only 39.3% of his shots from the floor. He has played in 31 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies this season and he is averaging 13.9 minutes, 3.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Center Hasheem Thabeet has been getting better each game this season. He has played in 30 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies this year and he is averaging 11.1 minutes, 3.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.1 assists and 1.1 blocked shots so far this year. Thabeet is shooting 60.9% from the floor so far this season (on mostly put backs and dunks) but he is only hitting 46.2% from the free throw line and that just won’t get it done.

The Grizzlies are depending on their rookies to give them a boost off the bench. 23-year old forward DeMarre Carroll has played in 10 games (0 starts) this season for the Grizzlies and he is averaging 18.9 minutes, 4.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. 24-year old small forward Sam Young has also been busy this season playing in 10 games (0 starts) in which he is averaging 12.3 minutes, 4.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. The Grizzlies expect the most out of 22-year old center Hasheem Thabeet. He recently injured his jaw pretty severely so it might take him a little bit of time to get back involved in the playing rotation for the Grizzlies. Thabeet has played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies this season and he is averaging 6.0 minutes, 0.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies don’t have a deep bench so they will need Carroll, Young and Thabeet to give them solid minutes when they are on the court this year.

The Grizzlies are getting a ton of production from the their rookies in 2008. Shooting guard O.J. Mayo has been the best of the bunch playing in 14 games in which he is averaging 39.2 minutes, 20.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is the go-to man for the Grizzlies on offense already and the best is yet to come as his game is geared for the NBA. Pau Gasol’s brother Marc is also making a name for himself down in Memphis. He has played in 14 games for the Grizzlies this season and he is averaging 29.2 minutes, 12.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Gasol definately has a upside to be as good as his brother is right now. Forward Darrell Arthur has been a solid player off the bench for the Grizzlies. He has played in 14 games for the Grizzlies this season and he has averaged 22.0 minutes, 6.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game. He will earn more playing time as the season goes on because of his efforts on the defensive end of the basketball court. He is also a very solid rebounder. Iranian center Hamed Haddadi has been sent to the D-League to get some playing time and speed up his game. Haddadi does have solid potential to help the Grizzlies down the road.