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.