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Report Card: Grading the Memphis Grizzlies’ 2018-19 Season in Its Entirety

By AJ Salah

MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 10: The Memphis Grizzlies bench reacts to play during the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 10, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 10: The Memphis Grizzlies bench reacts to play during the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 10, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies J.B. Bickerstaff Chris Wallace (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Organizational Culture: B-

To say the least, it was a roller coaster typer of season for the Memphis Grizzlies’ organizational culture.

For starters, their coach and General Manager continued to under-perform (bad). As a result, the Grizzlies demoted the overdue Chris Wallace, and canned rush-hire J.B. Bickerstaff (good). They then made decent hires in Rich Cho and Glen Grunwald to run the front office, while also promoting former champion Tayshaun Prince (possibly good?).

Fortunately, Memphis is not rushing to hire a head coach this time around. However, they have already weathered a blow to their assistant staff, losing the touted Jerry Stackhouse to Vanderbilt.

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Taking time to get decisions right became paramount to the Grizzlies after ‘Brooks Gate.” A three-way trade fell apart after wires crossed about which Brooks — Dillon or MarShon — was part of the deal.

The Marc Gasol trade — as painful as it was — hopefully scored Memphis some potential goodwill with future stars. After being shopped to far lesser teams, Gasol was allowed to chase a title, dealt quickly to as real of a contender as exists outside of Oakland, California. The good deed did not go unnoticed.

Memphis also maintained its reputation and ability to unearth value in NBA cast-offs. They breathed life into both Bruno Caboclo and (more significantly) Joakim Noah, continuing to make the 901 a destination for potential fringe value.

A new era in Memphis Grizzlies basketball will be ushered in next season: a new coach, new front office, and the trades of Gasol, and imminently Conley, all taking full effect. After severing ties with a washed GM and a possibly-overwhelmed coach, the Grizzlies can hopefully accelerate their rebuild.

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