Memphis Grizzlies Player Preview: Brandan Wright

Brandan Wright has been one of the most consistent post players in the NBA the last few years when on the floor, but will he finally be able to stay healthy enough to contribute that consistency for a full season?

Injuries hurt the Grizzlies last year and it showed with their post depth. JaMychal Green and Brandan Wright were the only Grizzlies that provided a consistent mix of scoring and rebounding. Unfortunately with Wright’s knee surgery and MCL sprain last year, the team had to rely on unproven and inconsistent bigs like Jarell Martin, Chris Anderson, Ryan Hollins, and Alex Stephenson. Wright could be the guy that the Grizzlies need to be healthy and step up this season to put them over the top in the west.

Brandan Wright as a Grizzly

Jan 8, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jarell Martin (10), guard Jordan Adams (3) and forward Brandan Wright (34) on the bench against the Denver Nuggets during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Wright signed with the Grizzlies on a three-year, $17.1 million contract last offseason. After eight seasons in the league, he has developed into one of the most consistent bigs who provides versatile defense, rebounds well for his size and can steadily score enough points to not be a liability on offense. Those traits are part of the reason why the Grizzlies signed him to his current deal. Chris Wallace envisioned him being the backup behind both Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. That never came to fruition as he only played in 12 games last year. In those 12 games. Though, he averaged 6.9 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game. Those average out to 14.1 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game per 36 minutes. This year with a healthy knee, Wright will finally get a chance to prove his contract is worth and be the dependable big behind Gasol and Randolph.

Best-Case Scenario

Feb 21, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph (6) jumps to score a basket beside Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandan Wright (34) in the second half of the Raptors 98-85 win at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Best-case has to include Wright playing in every game in a season for the first time in his career. That will be the biggest key for him helping the Grizzlies. Injuries ruined last year for the team and they can’t afford to not be able to rely on him. If he can stay healthy, providing them meaningful minutes behind Gasol and Randolph will only add to best scenario. Wright is a perfect backup big and providing what he does would fit into the Grizzlies this season and they wouldn’t miss a beat with him in the lineup. They won’t need to rely on him as long as everyone else stays healthy, so if he can get minutes, play every game and average around 10 points per game and eight rebounds per game, that would be a pretty good scenario for the Grizzlies.

Worst-Case Scenario

I think last year was a worst-case scenario for the Grizzlies and Wright. He only played in 12 games total and it couldn’t have gotten much worse than that. If he were to injure himself in the preseason and miss the whole year, the Grizzlies would ended up having paid him $11 million to play in12 games over two years. Unfortunately, it is a possible scenario and the Grizzlies are probably worried, hence drafting Michigan State’s Deyonta Davis.

Actual Scenario

Wright has averaged 46.5 games per season in his NBA career and expect the same from him this year. Somewhere around 35-55 games is probably the most realistic amount of games he’ll play. To expect him to complete a full season of 82 games is almost unrealistic since he hasn’t done it in his eight seasons. When he does play, expect his usual seven points and four rebound per game. Wright has grown to do a lot of the little things right and add wins to the team when he plays. If he does stay healthy, he can contribute to the Grizzlies’ depth.