Memphis Grizzlies NBA Free Agency Guide

Non-Guarantees and Exceptions

Should Jonas Valanciunas and/or Delong Wright depart in NBA free agency, the Memphis Grizzlies can further trim their payroll via non-guaranteed contracts.

First up in that department is Avery Bradley; whose $12.9 million salary is only guaranteed for $2 million if waived on or before July 3. Also on the table is Kyle Korver, at $3.44 of $7.5 million guaranteed. Waiving Korver is a less appealing option, with less to save, and the appeal of flipping his lethal shooting to a contender in need.

The contracts of Dillon Brooks, Ivan Rabb and Bruno Caboclo are also non-guaranteed, but retaining their collective upside at just over $5 million all-in is a no-brainer.

Memphis also has a number of trade exceptions — including one worth $8 million — they can use as an equalizer should they look to trade one of their active bodies for future assets.

But the most important exception for Memphis will be the mid-level exception (MLE); allowing them to sign a free agent while already over the cap.

This year’s MLE is set at $5.71 million. Memphis will likely be able to — at best — bolster their bench or take a flier on a high-upside project. Either way, their long-term outlook is more attractive for potential free agents than it’s been in several years.