Beale Street Bears
Fansided

5 Things Memphis Grizzlies Can Learn from Toronto Raptors’ Path to NBA Finals

By AJ Salah

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 19: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball as Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena of January 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 19: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball as Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena of January 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Memphis Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson Jr of the Memphis Grizzlies (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Raptors have steadily grown themselves into an NBA powerhouse. What lessons can the Memphis Grizzlies learn from their former countrymen as they rebuild their franchise?

The Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors are linked at the hip, both in the cosmic and current senses. Both teams were originally birthed from the NBA’s expansion into Canada in 1995; the “Grizzly” a staple of British Columbia’s vast forests. Unfortunately, the team quickly went extinct in Vancouver, keeping its moniker in a move to Memphis.

Years later, the teams’ fates crossed again. Memphis added touted Raptors assistant Jerry Stackhouse to its coaching staff (though he recently left to become Vanderbilt University‘s head coach). Former Raptors Draft enigma Bruno Caboclo became a Grizzlies regular. And the two teams pulled off a NBA Trade Deadline blockbuster, leaving Beale Street legend Marc Gasol in Raptors duds, and Memphis to inherit half of Toronto’s bench.

The Gasol trade may have raised the Toronto Raptors’ ceiling enough to conquer this year’s stacked East penthouse. Already with superstar Kawhi Leonard in tow, the Raptors consolidated their perhaps-excessive depth for an elite team player with oodles of playoff experience. Regardless if Gasol’s acquisition was the key variable, it is tough to argue with the results.

Unfortunately for the Memphis Grizzlies, they are headed in the opposite direction, lottery-bound after years of success. Fortunately for Memphis, they are already armed with potential star Jaren Jackson Jr, the virtual rights to Ja Morant, and a few potentially solid long-term pieces.

The obvious goal of Memphis’ rebuild is to compete for an NBA title, as Toronto is currently doing in the NBA Finals. With that in mind, here are five things the Memphis Grizzlies’ Front Office can learn from the Raptors as they claw back to legitimacy.

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