Mo Williams Signed by Trail Blazers, Grizzlies Miss Out

MARCH 29, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz point guard Mo Williams (5) dribbles the ball during the fourth quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. The Jazz won the game 105-95. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

This is the second time, now, that the Grizzlies have had a major interest snapped away from them by the Trail Blazers this off season, after Portland took sharpshooter Dorell Wright. Games in Portland might be a little bitter for Levien and Co. this year.

ESPN’s Marc Stein had reported that the Grizzlies were the frontrunners to land free agent point guard Mo Williams about a week ago, and we here at Beale Street Bears broke down what signing a player like Williams would do for the team. Alas, now he’s gone, off to bolster the bench of a team whose bench is in really desperate need of some bolstering.

So, it’s unfortunate to be losing Williams no matter how you look at it. On the bright side, the Grizzlies still project to be very, very good, if not the best in the Western Conference, Mo Williams or no Mo Williams. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies still have one relatively small hole to fill in the backup point guard position, and Mo Williams and his shooting touch would have been a nice addition.

On the other hand, as I pointed out in the breakdown-of-Mo-Williams piece, he’s still a defensive sieve, and at this point in the Grizzlies’ bench building, that matters a lot. And, really, it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Williams got snatched up by Portland, especially when you look at the contract numbers:

That’s almost certainly a mini Mid-Level Exception contract for Portland next season, at around $2.8 million per year (the Mini-Mid Level is 2.85). Frankly, the Grizzlies could not have offered that much. Memphis was lucky and Mike Miller didn’t take the entire Max Mid-Level Exception, but by my math, they still only have about $1.5 million to offer before they go over the tax. Jason Levien, unfortunately, has made it incredibly clear that he does not plan on spending the tax on the Grizzlies. In light of the harsh new CBA, that probably makes sense for a small market owner, even if it really hurts long-term building efforts.

So, the Grizzlies just flat-out could not offer Mo Williams Portland’s money. They were beaten fair and square. Though, as has been mentioned before, it’s a little odd that the Blazers have signed just about every guard that they physically can.

The unfortunate truth that’s now left, however, is that there just aren’t really any point guards left to fill the backup hole — especially any two-way guards for $1.5 million or less. Delonte West has been thrown around, and he certainly is the closest to a two-way point left on the market, but his behavioral issues (which we don’t get a good look at, as fans) are presumably bad enough to take him off the market entirely.

So, the point is, after whiffing on Williams, don’t expect the Grizzlies to fill the backup point hole at any time this season from here on out, unless via trade.

This current Grizzlies squad is probably what we’ve got to rely on moving forward. We’re lucky it’s such a good one.