Memphis Grizzlies 2017-2018 Player Preview: Andrew Harrison

As the NBA season is near, the final cuts to the roster are close. Will Andrew Harrison still be a member of the Memphis Grizzlies on opening night?

I’m on the record as not exactly being the biggest Andrew Harrison fan in the world. I’m also a firm believer that Andrew Harrison is the living embodiment of the expression “what you see is what you get.” Regardless of how good you think he’s now (which is not very good), he’s not going to show any real improvement. His foot speed, lack of explosiveness, and inconsistent jumper are all reasons for his low ceiling.

With all of that being said, Harrison isn’t without his virtues. At 6’6″, he’s a solid defender that has the size to defend multiple positions. From most media and team sources, he’s also an excellent teammate and a person of high character. Regardless of what you think of him as basketball player, Andrew Harrison is a guy you want in your locker room.

Due to the absence of any real alternatives, Harrison was the backup point guard for the majority of last season. However, the team and roster have changed dramatically. Will Andrew Harrison be on the team next season?

The Roster Situation

The Memphis Grizzlies currently have 17 players on their roster. According to NBA rules, a team can only take 15 players on their active roster into the season. The team will have to cut two players before opening night.

The three most likely candidates to be waived are Andrew Harrison, Wade Baldwin and Jarell Martin. It was announced before preseason began that the team would waive Jarell Martin, but he has played at an excellent level since then. No matter who Chris Wallace decides to cut, it’ll be a very difficult decision.

A decision will likely have to be made between Andrew Harrison and Wade Baldwin. The conventional wisdom is that Baldwin, the 17th pick in the 2016 draft, has a much higher ceiling than the second-round pick Harrison. With his size and athleticism, he has the potential to be a starting guard in the NBA. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Harrison still appears to be the better player right now.

He’s the shiniest of two turds, if you will.

Coach Fizdale trusted Harrison more last year, and he still looks more NBA-ready than Baldwin. It’s a legitimate question of whether Wade Baldwin will ever be an effective NBA player. Through most of preseason, he has sill looked extremely raw.

The Likely Decision

Andrew Harrison will likely not be a member of the opening night roster.

The decision will likely come down to pride for Chris Wallace. Especially if Jarell Martin is also cut, it’s not a good look for an NBA franchise to move on from a first round pick after just one year. Even if Wade Baldwin never becomes a solid NBA player, it’s not a good precedent to set to give up on first-round picks so quickly.

Andrew Harrison’s abilities are simply not needed like they were last season. Tyreke Evans and Mario Chalmers both appear to be fully healthy and will handle the playmaking of the second unit. Harrison was the backup point guard for a team that really had no other option last season. The Grizzlies have multiple options this season.

No matter what ends up happening, Andrew Harrison has been a nice player for the Grizzlies. Personally, I believe he has played more than he probably should have over the last season, but he never gave less than his maximum effort on the court.

Good luck Andrew, whether it is in Memphis or elsewhere.

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