Memphis Grizzlies: How to Address the Small Forward Surplus

Who’s on the Move?

Let’s be clear; every single small forward on the Memphis Grizzlies’ roster, with the possible exception of Solomon Hill, is good enough to be playing meaningful minutes in the NBA. The Grizzlies probably only have room for three or four of their seven small forwards on their 13-man NBA roster, but they obviously do not want to give away quality players for zero return. Luckily, the Grizzlies still have a couple of roster holes to fill this offseason, and the front office is also looking to load up on draft picks to aid in this post-GNG “rebuild.”

The expiring contracts of Iguodala, Crowder, Miles, and Hill will be attractive to teams looking to add short-term talent without committing to big long-term contracts and painting themselves into a financial corner. Caboclo and Brooks also have contracts expiring after next season, but each of them are owed less than $2 million next year in partially guaranteed money, so neither is much of a concern when it comes to taking on a contract. Whether it is before the season begins or shortly before the NBA Trade Deadline in February, the Grizzlies will likely receive plenty of suitors for one or more of these  expiring contract guys.

Kyle Anderson is entering the second year of a four-year deal with the Grizzlies, and I think he is the most unlikely to be wearing a different jersey this season. Kyle had a productive season for Memphis last year, and assuming he is healthy going into the 2019-2020 season, he will likely stay in Memphis and help mentor the Grizzlies’ young core.

The Grizzlies still need a backup point guard. Avery Bradley is under contract with the Grizzlies for another year, but if Memphis waives him before July 8th, the Grizzlies owe him far less than the full $12 million on his contract for next year. If the Grizzlies come to an agreement with free agent Delon Wright in the next few days, Bradley will likely be waived before the July 8th deadline.

If, however, Wright is pursued by another team and his price gets driven up too high, the Grizzlies have a decision to make: keep Bradley as backup point guard, or waive Bradley and pursue a cheaper option. If the Grizzlies decide to take the latter approach, any of their expiring-contract small forwards can be used as trade chips. It is not implausible that a sign-and-trade situation could arise with free agent point guards like Rajon Rondo or Tyus Jones (either of whom would likely be cheaper than Bradley) in which Memphis could send over a package that includes one or more of their small forwards.

The acquisition of De’Anthony Melton may be a sign that the Grizzlies have chosen not to pursue Wright, but it’s likely that Melton is more of an insurance policy. Memphis has already extended a qualifying offer to Wright, making him a restricted free agent and giving the Grizzlies the opportunity to match any offer made by another team. Wright should still be the primary target in the search for a highly productive backup to Ja Morant.

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Memphis also needs a backup center. With the likely departure of Joakim Noah and the relatively diminutive stature (6’8) of former Gonzaga power forward Brandon Clarke, that leaves either Ivan Rabb or recent acquisition Miles Plumlee as the Grizzlies’ current backup center. I am not sold on Rabb; he is a tenacious rebounder and an athletic leaper, but he has not shown me much in two years, and he is far, far too skinny to play center in the NBA. Plumlee has put up mediocre numbers in limited minutes over the last five years, but he is experienced, which is more than can be said for Rabb.

The Grizzlies, should they choose to abandon Rabb and Plumlee as the heirs apparent to the backup center position, could exchange one or more of their small forwards for a proven backup center. A sign-and-trade for free agents Kosta Koufos or Joakim Noah, both former Grizzlies, could help shore up the backup center position, as well as dispensing with an extra small forward (and ideally, Plumlee) who likely would not see the court this next year.

The summer is long, and the NBA Free Agency period is still in its early stages, but the Grizzlies will have to trade or waive several players in order to make enough room on the roster for 13 men (15 total, but only 13 can play on any given night). If there is a market for some of the Grizzlies’ players who will not be first- or second-string on opening night (which I believe there is), trading players is preferable to waiving them.

The most valuable assets to a franchise that is in the rebuilding stage are a young, talented core and a bevy of draft picks in the coming years. Memphis currently possesses both, but there is no such thing as too many draft picks, especially since Memphis owes Boston a top-six protected pick in the 2020 NBA Draft that becomes unprotected in 2021.

Personally, I would love to see an opening night starting lineup of Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, Andre Iguodala, Jaren Jackson, jr., and Jonas Valanciunas, followed by a second unit featuring Delon Wright, Kyle Anderson, Jae Crowder, Brandon Clarke, and a proven backup center like Noah or Koufos.

The current surplus of small forwards is a good problem for the Grizzlies to have, and Memphis fans will expect our surprisingly competent front office to use that surplus to accelerate this rebuild and put the Bluff City back on the map.