Why do the Memphis Grizzlies honor past players?

The Memphis Grizzlies are honoring Zach Randolph and Tony Allen this season despite choosing to not resign them this summer. Why?

The Memphis Grizzlies have developed a strange fascination with their former fan favorite players.

First it was Shane Battier poster night after he had been traded the season before and was an active player for Houston at the time of the promotion. The promotion didn’t go over poorly, per se, but it wasn’t exactly warmly received either. It’s important to remember that Battier was traded from by the Memphis Grizzlies and didn’t leave voluntarily.

This summer, the Grizzlies announced they would retire Zach Randolph’s number, and no one else would wear #50 for the Grizz. That’s a great honor for a player who did a lot for this franchise.

However, Randolph is playing for Sacramento this season and will be in a different team’s uniform that night. Randolph had made it clear he preferred to return to Memphis to end his career, but the front office wanted to move in a different direction.

Since they can’t retire his jersey yet, they’re handing out headbands in his honor this season.

Finally, we have the “grit and grind forever” towel night on opening night to honor Tony Allen, the originator of the expression.

Tony Allen didn’t want to leave Memphis either. He wanted to remain a part of the franchise, but the front office wanted to move toward a more perimeter-oriented offense with more speed and ball movement. Instead of re-signing Tony, the team allowed him to leave for New Orleans, the Grizzlies’ opponent on opening night.

All three of these players didn’t leave Memphis via free agency or retirement. They were sent away by a front office anxious to move the team in a different direction.

There’s nothing wrong with these front office moves. Every team will have to make difficult decisions to improve the future of a franchise at the expense of a popular player.

It’s odd that the players who left are honored while still playing in the league.

Should’ve waited …

Former Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach Lionel Hollins played for the Portland Trailblazers early in his career and had his jersey retired by Portland despite not finishing his career there. It was retired 30 years after Portland’s Championship season of 1977-78. It wasn’t while he was still playing in the league.

Now one can excuse the Shane Battier promotion. The year was 2006, and the team wasn’t very popular in Memphis at the time. Cash has always been tight for the Memphis Grizzlies. It made some sense to use the posters rather than destroy them. Maybe the promotion would drive a few more fans to the FedEx Forum after all.

Besides, Shane’s departure brought in Rudy Gay. It wasn’t like the team allowed Battier to leave for nothing. They believed they sent a fan favorite out to be replaced with a players with greater upside potential.

Zach Randolph and Tony Allen are different matters. Both players were unceremoniously dropped this summer despite wanting to remain with the team. The Grizzlies received nothing in exchange for the players either. They just wanted the cap space to spend on Ben McLemore, Tyreke Evans, some rookies and probably JaMychal Green (although it isn’t sure that Green will re-sign yet).

These aren’t players who are garnishing a lot of hope among Grizzlies fans, especially after McLemore broke his foot this summer.

The Grizzlies reportedly lost money last season despite the new revenue sharing agreement (according to Ron Tillery). That doesn’t explain purchasing Zach Randolph headbands or giving out towels that honor Tony Allen on the nights those players are competing against the team.

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Someone in the promotions department needs to think about these things. The Shane Battier poster giveaway left a lot of egg on Memphis’ face in the national press. It’s worrisome that they team is apparently making the same mistake again.

Let’s just hope that the team wins on opening night, or else there will be a lot of tough comments on social media. Honoring an opponent on any night when the Grizzlies lose is dangerous. It’s a terrible way to start a season.

My parents always told me “there’s a time and place for everything.” Let’s just hope the Grizzlies PR department chose the right time.