1 of 10

Brandon Dill/Associated Press

Can we count Marc Gasol as homegrown?

No, the Grizzlies didn't draft Gasol, but they did trade for him (when they dealt his brother, Pau, to the Lakers) before he ever played a game in the NBA. He even went to high school in Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb right outside of Memphis.

You know what? We're making an exception. Marc Gasol counts. He's homegrown.

When Memphis received Gasol, he was an afterthought, a throw-in to a trade that was considered at the time to be one of the most lopsided deals ever made. It turned out, the Grizzlies got the best current center in the NBA out of it.

The Griz didn't just develop Gasol, either. Mike Conley is one of the most improved-since-entering-the-league players.

Let's face it: When Conley first came into the NBA, he was a mightily flawed contributor. Now, he's one of the world's six or seven best point guards, someone about whom people reasonably cry "Injustice!" whenever he misses out on an opportunity to be an All-Star.

Lionel Hollins may have been the coach who was running things for most of Gasol's and Conley's careers, but the regime has actually stayed similar since his departure. Current coach Dave Joerger was an assistant for him and was actually credited with much of Memphis' defensive prowess during the Hollins years.

The Grizz have developed a couple stars with guys who, at different points, seemed like they wouldn't get to this level. That obviously falls most on the players, but the organization can claim some credit in their progression.