I’ve taken most of this lockout summer off from hoops blogging, but with the season winding down and — hopefully — talks between the owners and players’ association heating up, I’m going to (take a) leap (of faith) back into basketball again.

While we wait for the lockout to end and free agency to begin, I’m going to spend the next few weeks taking a position-by-position look at where the team’s roster stands coming out of last season and what expectations and needs will be heading into what will hopefully be the 2011-2012 season.

But, first, let’s cleanse the blog palate with a quick overview of the most notable and/or interesting pieces of Grizzlies news that have happened since the lockout began:

Hamed Haddadi could be making an unlikely return to the birthplace of rock-and-roll.
  • Hamed Haddadi could be making an unlikely return to the birthplace of rock-and-roll.

June 28: Grizzlies Extend Qualifying Offer to Hamed Haddadi: Unlike most qualifying offer extensions, this one was not a foregone conclusion. While he’s been productive when given minutes, Haddadi has spent most of his Grizzlies tenure at the end of the bench and the smart money was probably on a return overseas for next season. But Haddadi told me late in the season that he hoped to stay in the NBA and, unless the Grizzlies were to pull back the offer before Haddadi were to sign it, the Iranian center is guaranteed a roster spot back in Memphis next season if he wants it. But Haddadi was also offered a chance to play in China.

July 7th: So Long, Dakota Wizards: The Grizzlies got a new D League affiliate — the Reno Bighorns — when the Golden State Warriors purchased the team’s previous affiliate. No longer will Grizzlies prospects enjoy winters in Bismarck the way Haddadi and Hasheem Thabeet have in recent seasons.

July 13th: Johnny Davis Leaves for Toronto: The Grizzlies’ incumbent lead assistant left to join Dwane Casey’s new staff with the Raptors. Davis joins Damon Stoudemire as a defection from the Grizzlies’ staff.