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Reaction: The Memphis Grizzlies Waive Center Dakari Johnson

By Chris Kern

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 23: Dakari Johnson #44 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on before the game against the Utah Jazz in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018NOTE 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 23: Dakari Johnson #44 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on before the game against the Utah Jazz in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018NOTE 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies have decided to move on from Dakari Johnson. He was acquired in a deal that sent Jarell Martin to Orlando.

Releasing Dakari Johnson gets the Memphis Grizzlies down to 15 roster spots, but it does leave them thin in the frontcourt. Even with the Grizzlies getting to 15 players they are not done making moves. They still have another two-way spot as well as the possibility of making more moves.

As stated in this tweet, the Memphis Grizzlies have no need to use the stretch provision on Johnson. They could consider it, but with them still being below the tax, it just does not make much sense for them to do so.

What’s Next For Johnson?

Dakari Johnson was selected 48th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. He spent the next few seasons in the Oklahoma City Thunder organization. He played in 31 games last season which included six starts. He averaged 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds per game in 5.2 minutes in that span.

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Johnson has been traded a couple times this summer already and now he is going to be a free-agent. There remains a couple weeks until training camp where he should be able to find himself a training camp invite at a bare minimum before likely ending up in the G-League. The Oklahoma City Blue continue to own Dakari’s G-League rights.

What’s Next For Memphis?

With Dakari Johnson on the way out, the Memphis Grizzlies have very little depth up front. Ivan Rabb and Jaren Jackson Jr are the only backup bigs they have gotten. Chandler Parsons will play some backup power forward but he is still more of a small forward. Yuta Watanabe could play some inside, too, but he will mainly be in the G-League this season.

The Grizzlies will probably consider making a move for a veteran center. It is not that they do not trust Rabb or Jackson. It will be just in case that Marc Gasol misses any time, Memphis would prefer to have a formidable backup five-man.

The Memphis Grizzlies added Doral Moore to their training camp roster recently. He is a young talented big who could fit to sneak out a roster spot. If the Grizzlies plan on using Jaren Jackson Jr as a power forward, then Moore could be used as a backup center.

While Moore’s initial role will probably be primarily in the G-league, he could earn himself a regular season roster spot as time goes along. They may prefer a veteran for this season. However, Moore could become a potential long-term answer as the backup center.

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