Parsons out, Barnes in, deeper playoffs run.
I’m not going to blame Chris Wallace and the Grizzlies for going after Chancun Parsons, but in an alternative universe, the Grizzlies should’ve signed Harrison Barnes instead. Yes, Barnes shot the 73-9 Warriors in the leg and ended their historic season in a catastrophic way by shooting wide-open bricks. Even with all that, he’d still be a great addition for the Grizzlies. Barnes, in a vacuum, is a better shooter, younger, more upside and injury-free. He’s the anti-Parsons!
Barnes would’ve averaged 19-21 points alongside Mike’s 20 and Gasol’s 19. He would’ve picked up the load off Conley and Gasol back and helped them carry the team. The Grizzlies would’ve won
Hoops Habit
the games they should’ve won, because they have another offensive option to go to. Mike and Marc can’t do it for 82 games at the same level. They need another guy that can get 20 or even 30 in any night against mediocre teams, and that guy is Harry B!
The Grizzlies taking care of business and winning easy games would’ve put them in a way better seeding. Let’s say they go to the playoffs as the sixth seed in a match-up with the Houston Rockets – a much easier series than one against the Spurs. Memphis would’ve beaten the Rockets and gone on to play the Spurs with a hypothetical healthy squad that included Barnes. I’m willing to take a chance on a healthy, experienced Grizzlies team against anyone.
So to wrap it up, if the Grizzlies would’ve signed Barnes instead of Parsons, they would’ve made it to second round or even the Western Conference Finals. — Adel Alammari (@__adel11)