Memphis Grizzlies: What does the future hold?

The Memphis Grizzlies entered the season with the goal of reaching the playoffs for the 8th consecutive season but is that still the case

The Memphis Grizzlies have seen a season go from unrivalled joy with the hot start, to dismay during the subsequent losing streak, to manic depression with the firing of David Fizdale and now complete confusion with the Grizzlies winning games again despite a laundry list of injuries.

It has been a strange season. This leaves Memphis Grizzlies fans wondering about some major issues?

1. Will J.B.Bickerstaff have the interim tag removed from his title?
2. Is Tyreke Evans going to remain with the team after the trading deadline?
3. Have ping pong balls take priority over winning basketball and if not why not?
4. Will the team try to bring back Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons to make a run for the playoffs?

Let’s look at these each one.

Bickerstaff

First, we have J.B. BIckerstaff who took over a fractured, underperforming team for the second time as a head coach. Bickerstaff replaced David Fizdale after the coach was abruptly fired on November 27th. The team was in the midst of an 8 game losing streak at the time. The team went 2-11 over the next 13 games before finally showing some life.

The Grizzlies have gone 8-6 since then despite missing Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons and Brandon Wright. This includes a season long five game home  winning streak. With three more home games and a road game against Indiana, it is possible the Grizzlies could have 20 wins heading into February.

BIckerstaff is only 10-17 as the Grizzlies head coach but has accomplished a lot without a lot of talent on the court. The team is playing closer to “the right way” than they have since their 5-1 start. He has done this by playing a more uptempo style, using young players more and keeping everyone happy for the most part.

Has he done enough to have the interim label removed?

Tyreke Evans

The second issue is Tyreke Evans’ role with the team. Evans is signed for only one season. His contract is very cap-friendly as well. Will the Grizzlies trade him before the February 8th deadline? Or risk having him walk at the end of the season for nothing?

This decision depends on how seriously the Grizzlies are considering the playoffs a possibility this season.

Evans is needed for a playoff push but would only hinder the team if rising in the lottery is of greater concern. The Grizzlies have played the fourth most-difficult schedule so far this season (according to ESPN). Memphis could benefit from an easier schedule down the stretch to make playoffs.

Tyreke Evans is needed for a serious playoff push. Is that in the franchises best interest longer term?

Playoffs or ping pong balls?

This leads us to the third most pressing issues. Is making an 8th consecutive playoff appearance the best outcome for the franchise?

Memphis hasn’t done a great job with lottery draft picks under Chris Wallace. In fact, they haven’t done a great job of drafting at all. Since Mike Conley was drafted, the only Grizzlies first round draft pick still with the team is Jarell Martin. Many of the Grizzlies draft picks aren’t even in the NBA anymore. Wade Baldwin, the Grizzlies 17th pick in the 2016 first rounder, was released before the season began this year.

More from Grizzlies News

• Dillon Brooks speaks out after beating former Grizzlies teammate in World Cup
• Jaren Jackson Jr. puts ex-Grizzlies teammate on notice
• 3 players Grizzlies would consider trading Ja Morant for
• Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. put on blast following FIBA elimination
• Ex-Grizzlies guard signs with title favorite, joins forces with 6-time All-Star

However, Wallace has found some gems deeper in the draft with Ivan Rabb and Dillon Brooks, plus free agent finds like JaMychal Green and now Myke Henry. That still leaves the franchise needing a young, highly talented player for the future. It would be much easier to acquire such a player with a top pick rather than a middle first round pick.

It’s difficult to imagine the Memphis Grizzlies challenging for an NBA title, or even a second round playoff appearance, without an influx of young talent. Second round draft picks and free agents fill out a roster. They don’t headline an NBA championship roster. If winning a title is the ultimate goal, the Grizzlies need a high lottery draft pick. To get that type of pick, the team needs to lose more games.

Bring back Conley and  Parsons?

This brings us to the final issue. Should the Memphis Grizzlies try to bring back Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons this season?

Clearly bringing either or both players back would strengthen the roster and make the playoffs easier to reach. Those players combined with Tyreke Evans could allow the Memphis Grizzlies to reach the eighth playoff spot, or possibly seventh. The Grizzlies are only 6.5 games out of the playoffs right now.

The Nuggets, Clippers, Pelicans and Jazz are all that stand in the way of the Memphis Grizzlies. These teams are all fighting serious injuries to their rosters. A healthy roster, easier closing schedule and a motivated coaching staff could make a run.

On the other hand, the Grizzlies are just four games out of the cellar in the Western Conference. If the Memphis Grizzlies decide to develop their young talent, trade Tyreke Evans, and keep Conley and Parsons in recovery mode, they could finish with one of the worst records in the league and have a greater chance of winning a top-three pick in the lottery.

Would that be better than an eighth straight playoff appearance?

Next: Realistic trade value for each player

The Memphis Grizzlies front office is being tight lipped about all of these issues. No one outside of the sanctum of the Grizzlies corporate offices has any idea what the team is attempting to accomplish with the rest of the season.

Fans of the Memphis Grizzlies can only hope someone in the the offices has an idea themselves.