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Memphis Grizzlies: An NBA Free Agency Primer

By Justin Lewis

MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 15: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against Tyreke Evans #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies on January 15, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 15: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against Tyreke Evans #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies on January 15, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MEMPHIS, TN – JANUARY 15: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against Tyreke Evans #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies on January 15, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – JANUARY 15: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against Tyreke Evans #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies on January 15, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

At 12:00 am, July 1, free agents can officially begin to verbally agree to contracts with teams. The Memphis Grizzlies have the Mid-Level Exception to use on one roster spot.

Starting Sunday, things will be exciting in the NBA Offseason again. This time frame between the Draft and Free Agency is just boring. (Free Agency should start before the draft, but that is a whole different story). On the national scale, it is Lebron Watch again. Kawhi Leonard wants to be a Laker. Paul George could also be a Laker, but may stay in Oklahoma City. Maybe Dallas actually signs DeAndre Jordan this time.

The national media will not be paying much attention (as usual) to what Memphis is doing. This is mainly because the Memphis Grizzlies have 14 players on roster, which leaves them with one spot to fill. Here is the current layout for 2018-19:

PG: Mike Conley, Andrew Harrison, Jevon Carter

SG: Wayne Selden Jr., MarShon Brooks, Ben McElmore

SF: Dillon Brooks, Chandler Parsons

PF: JaMychal Green, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ivan Raab, Jarrell Martin

C: Marc Gasol, Deyonta Davis

The Memphis Grizzlies clearly need to chase a wing in Free Agency. Woah. Talk about deja vu.

New offseason. Same old story.

Let Beale Street Bears walk through the wings that are available this offseason that could be in play for the Grizzlies (in no particular order):

  1. Will Barton
  2. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
  3. Rudy Gay
  4. Tyreke Evans
  5. Avery Bradley
  6. Rodney Hood
  7. Mario Hezonja
  8. Joe Harris
  9. Glenn Robinson III
  10. Doug McDermott
  11. Marcus Smart
  12. Wayne Ellington
  13. Lance Stephenson

There are three tiers of players here for the Memphis Grizzlies:

Tier 1 – Players that the Grizzlies should target first but may not be able to afford.

Tier 2 – Players that the Grizzlies will target as backup plans, but will still be a good fit.

Tier 3 – Players that would be worst case scenario, such as every other player spurned the Grizz for opportunities elsewhere.

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