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.

The Grizzlies have signed 7’2″, 254 pound Iranian center Hamed Haddadi. Haddadi was dominating in the Olympics as he averaged 16.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game. The Grizzlies will likely take it slow with Haddadi but he clearly has the talent to succeed down the road in the NBA. This was a good move for the Grizzlies as quality big men are hard to find.

The Grizzlies’ were very happy with the rookies they acquired in the draft and thru trade this season. SG/PG Juan Carlos Navarro made the biggest impact of the rookies for the Grizzlies this season. He played in all 82 games (30 starts) for the Grizzlies this season and he averaged 25.8 minutes, 10.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Navarro will likely be the starter at shooting guard next season and in the future for the Grizzlies.

Mike Conley Jr. was the first round pick of the Grizzlies last season and he got off to a slow start before finishing the season strongly. Conley played in 53 games (46 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 26.1 minutes, 9.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. Conley will likely be the starting point guard next season and in the future for the Grizzlies.

PG/SG Javaris Crittenton was acquired at the trade deadline as the main piece in the Pau Gasol trade with the Lakers. He came off the bench behind both Mike Conley and Juan Carlos Navarro and he looked good for them. Crittenton played in 28 games (0 starts) last season for the Grizzlies and he averaged 18.1 minutes, 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He played in 50 games (0 starts) combined with the Lakers & Grizzlies and he averaged 13.6 minutes, 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. He will likely continue his role as the top backup guard on the Grizzlies next season.

The Memphis Grizzlies have a nice trio of rookie guards who should be a big part of the team’s future. Mike Conley was the Grizzlies first round pick this season and he’s been solid. Conley has played in 30 games (23 starts) this season for the Grizzlies and he is averaging 26.5 minutes, 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Conley is not a great shooter as he is hitting 43.9% from the floor and 74% from the free throw line. Conley will likely never be a good long range shooter but he’s got a good in-between game and he’s a solid defender. Juan Carlos Navarro has also been solid this season for the Grizzlies. He has played in 59 games (23 starts) this season for the Grizzlies and he is averaging 26.4 minutes, 11.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Navarro has shot 41.5% from the floor, 37.5% from three point range and 83.5% from the free throw line this season. Look for those % to go up with better shot selection. Javaris Crittenton has played in 10 games (0 starts) since coming over from the Lakers in the Pau Gasol trade and he is averaging 15.3 minutes, 6.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He hasn’t shot well yet though as he is hitting 37% from the free throw line and 61.3% from the free throw line for the Grizzlies. Crittenton has now played in 32 games (0 starts) for the Lakers & Grizzlies this season and he is averaging 10.1 minutes, 4.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. He is shooting 43% from the floor and 64.4% from the free throw line this season. The Grizzlies need to think big in future Drafts as they appear set at the guard positions with this season’s rookie class.

The Grizzlies have to be pleased with the play of guards Juan Carlos Navarro and Mike Conley Jr. so far this season. Conley was the first round pick of the Grizzlies but he hasn’t played much due to injury. He has played in 5 games this season and he is averaging 14.4 minutes, 5.6 points, 1.0 rebound and 4.2 assists per game. He also has shot well as he is hitting 47.4% of his shots from the floor and 81.8% from the free throw line. Juan Carlos Navarro is soaking up a lot of the playing time that Mike Conley Jr. would have been getting and he is running with it. Navarro has played in 28 games so far this season and he is averaging 23.6 minutes, 10.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

Rookie point guard Mike Conley will be ready to return in a couple of weeks. He’s recovering from a tear in his right shoulder that has kept him out of action for a couple of weeks already. Conley has only played in 5 games so far this season and he has averaged 14.4 minutes, 5.6 points, 1.0 rebound and 4.2 assists per game. Conley also has shot pretty well so far this season as he’s hit 47.4% from the floor and 81.8% from the free throw line.

The Grizzlies had a really good crop of rookies this season and they all got to play some because of all the injuries the Grizz suffered this season. G/F Rudy Gay played in 78 games and he averaged 27.0 minutes, 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Gay is a future star for the Grizzlies. G/F Tarance Kinsey played in 48 games this season and he averaged 20.1 minutes, 7.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He really played well down the stretch for the Grizzlies when he filled in for the injured Mike Miller. Kinsey has a bright future for the Grizzlies. F Alexander Johnson played in 59 games and he averaged 12.8 minutes, 4.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. He looks like he’ll be a solid reserve as he’s a pretty good rebounder. PG Kyle Lowry only played in 10 games (due to a broken wrist) and he averaged 17.5 minutes, 5.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Lowry also looks like a keeper for the Grizzlies.

The last two weeks the Grizzlies decided to give a couple of their rookies more playing time and the players have responded. Tarance Kinsey didn’t get much playing time until the last couple of weeks and he has really played well. In his last 7 games, Kinsey has averaged 19.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Kinsey looks like he’s a keeper for the future of the Grizzlies. Rudy Gay has also seen his playing time go up and he’s also showing that he’s a keeper. In his last 6 games, Gay has averaged 15.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. He should be a starter without a doubt for the Grizzlies next season.

With this season pretty much lost for the Grizzlies they might as well take a longer look at the kids they drafted. Rudy Gay can play either small forward or shooting guard and he’s a very athletic player. Gay has played in 47 games this season and is averaging 22.7 minutes, 8.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. He does need to shoot better as he’s only hitting 40.3% of his shots from the floor.

Power Forward Alexander Johnson has played very well when given the chance. The Grizzlies need to play him more because he’s a good rebounder and the Grizzlies are not a good rebounding team. Johnson has played in 32 games and he’s averaged 6.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists. Johnson also has made 55.3% of his FG’s this season which is impressive even though most of the attempts are in the paint.

Shooting guard Tarence Kinsey hasn’t played very much this season. He’s played in 16 games and is averaging 8.4 minutes, 2.3 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.4 assists. He could get better with more playing time.

Guard Will Conroy has played in one game and didn’t score in 2.2 minutes on the court.

Rudy Gay has been pretty good so far this season. Gay has played in 21 games and has averaged 24.7 minutes, 9.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.0 steal and 0.9 blocks per game so far this season. The only negative so far on Gay is that he is only shooting 37.2% from the floor.

Kyle Lowry broke his wrist and will miss the rest of the season, but he showed promise when he played this season. He had played in 10 games and had averaged 17.5 minutes, 5.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game so far this season. He also had a shooting problem as he only hit 36.8% of his shots from the floor.

Alexander Johnson has only played in 6 games and has averaged 3.2 minutes, 1.5 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game so far this season.

Tarence Kinsey has only played in 2 games and has averaged 8.2 minutes and 3.5 points per game.

Rudy Gay and Kyle Lowry will make this an excellent draft for Memphis, as they will be big-time players in the near future.