Memphis Grizzlies
On the surface, the Memphis Grizzlies' presence on this list may seem strange. Why would the Kings need to worry about a team that they won 19 more games (the Grizzlies went 27-55) than last year?
However, those who have been paying attention know that if the Grizzlies can stay healthy this year, they boast one of the deepest teams in the Western Conference.
There is their Big Three: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. The latter two got some valuable repetitions as primary options while the former was out serving a suspension/due to injury. Then there is their three-headed monster of tantalizing young wings/forwards in GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., and Santi Aldama – all of whom flashed the potential to be dynamic role players on a more cohesive roster.
That's all without mentioning the presence of the battle-tested Marcus Smart, the now-healthy Brandon Clarke, or the former two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey. If they can avoid the injury bug this year (and Edey doesn't end up being the second-coming of Boban Marjanovic), the Grizzlies have as good of a top nine as anyone in the NBA.
Fortunately for the Kings, the Grizzlies have had trouble avoiding that disease.