The Memphis Grizzlies have been dealt a significant blow as they prepare for the upcoming NBA season, with the news that center Steven Adams will miss the entire campaign due to injury. Adams' absence, coupled with the expected long-term absence of his backup Brandon Clarke, leaves the Grizzlies with concerns in their frontcourt depth.

Adams played a crucial role for the Grizzlies last season, particularly in offensive rebounding, where he helped the team dominate the category. Losing his presence on the court will undoubtedly be felt by the team. Clarke's injury only adds to the team's frontcourt woes, as he too is expected to be sidelined for most of the season while recovering from a torn Achilles.

The Grizzlies have relied on Xavier Tillman Jr. as a starter in Adams' absence in the past, achieving an 18-11 record in the 29 games he started. However, Tillman Jr.'s limitations became apparent in the playoffs when the team's offense struggled. To address this, the Grizzlies may turn to Jaren Jackson Jr., the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, to play more minutes at center. However, this solution may increase Jackson Jr.'s foul rate, hindering his playing time. Another option for the Grizzlies is Kenneth Lofton Jr., who has shown promise as an offensive player but lacks defensive prowess.

In addition to the frontcourt issues, Adams' injury exacerbates the size problem faced by the Grizzlies. The team predominantly features a small perimeter lineup, and if Jackson Jr. takes on the center role, it will further necessitate bigger wing options like Ziaire Williams or David Roddy to play power forward. Santi Aldama, currently playing as power forward, is also expected to see a significant increase in playing time to allow for Jackson Jr.'s shift to center.

To address the team's needs, the Grizzlies can apply for a disabled player exception worth $6.3 million. However, this option is only available for players in the last year of their contract, limiting its applicability for Memphis. The team does possess a $7.5 million exception from the Dillon Brooks sign-and-trade, as well as their entire $12.4 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception. These resources may provide the Grizzlies with avenues for potential trades without relying solely on exception money.

The loss of Adams undoubtedly affects the Grizzlies' win projection for the season, and it alters preseason forecasts that predicted Memphis to have the Western Conference's top win-loss record. With the standings closely contested in the West, losing Adams is a significant setback that is expected to lower the team's statistical projection by approximately four wins. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies still possess a talented roster, with Adams ranked as the team's fifth-best player.

Taking Adams' absence into consideration, projections suggest that the Grizzlies would drop from the first position to fifth in the Western Conference. This reshuffling sees the Denver Nuggets move up to the top spot, with the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves tying for second place. The Golden State Warriors would round out the top four in the conference. Interestingly, this injury-induced change further tightens an already fiercely competitive playoff race, with less than a five-game spread projected among the top eight teams in the West.

The news of Adams' season-ending injury puts the Grizzlies in a challenging position as they look ahead to the upcoming NBA season. The team will need the best version of Ja Morant to make a strong push for the playoffs and potentially exceed expectations. With significant adjustments needed in their frontcourt and lineup, the Grizzlies will face an uphill battle in maintaining their competitive standing in the Western Conference.

John Hollinger, known for his extensive NBA experience and pioneering work in basketball analytics, served as the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Memphis Grizzlies. He has also contributed to media outlets like ESPN.com and SI.com, and authored "Pro Basketball Forecast." In recognition of his contributions, Hollinger received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in 2018.