Andrew Harrison’s Fate in Memphis Lies with the Draft Pick
June 29th, the Memphis Grizzlies will roll into team options and contract determinations, with that being said, what does that mean for Andrew Harrison?
Andrew Harrison will be entering his third year in the NBA, and if the Memphis Grizzlies pick up his option on June 29th, all of them will be in Beale Street blue. The thing is ‘if’ the Grizzlies pickup his option on the 29th, it will tell me that Memphis took a big man on June 21st where the Grizzlies draft fourth overall in the NBA draft.
There is a lot riding on this pick, and that is why I say that it is the biggest pick in franchise history. Also, Memphis is well over the salary cap, which means that they are looking to take the cheapest ways to keep it as little as possible right now.
Possible Scenarios
If Harrison stays, and the Grizzlies pick up their team option on him, which is roughly $1,931,189 according to sportrac.com. I think if you’re Memphis you take the cheap way out, and lose another year of second year guard Kobi Simmons. Simmons is on track to return to Memphis on another two-way contract, and while I like the contract, I’d like him full time in Memphis. I think that Simmons is already progressed to Harrison’s level one year in. Yes, Simmons is still a raw talent, but he is smart, and a quality option for Memphis’ cap situation.
Also, the Grizzlies have to look at who will bridge the gap if Memphis takes a guy like Trae Young at number four. Simmons gets those quality minutes while Conley gets rest, and Young and company run the bench unit. Two quality guards running the second unit on solid contracts would be excellent for Memphis and their cap situation.
Harrison does not add much to the cap situation, but if the Grizzlies go with a guard at number four, I doubt that he gets that option picked up.
Now, if the Grizzlies go with a big man, such as Mo Bamba, or Marvin Bagley look for the option to be picked up immediately. Depth is key, and Harrison played well in the minutes he had last season, and progressed well.