The Memphis Grizzlies have had one of the NBA’s busiest offseasons so far. How well has this flurry of transactions positioned them for both the now and next?
Grit N Grind gave way to a new era of Memphis Grizzlies basketball, and no time is being wasted ushering it in. After years of lateral and backward movement, former GM Chris Wallace was canned; demoted to scouting.
In his stead, Rich Cho and Glen Grunwald have been off to a torrid start, pulling off deals of all magnitudes with both short and long-term implications. Gone are Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, staples of everything that was both right and wrong with Memphis’ franchise. Cho and Grunwald have heavily shaken up Memphis’ lineup and salary sheet, adding both movable units and potential core pieces.
Most about the current roster’s makeup – from the presence of dead-weight expiring deals to the seven small forwards – suggests the moves are far from done. This Grizzlies team could look much different by opening night, and certainly will in a year’s time.
The initial flood of summer NBA player movement has dried up in the aftermath of Kawhi Leonard’s nuclear bomb of a decision. It’s an appropriate time to assess the Grizzlies’ offseason thus far, as active players in that fray.
Beale Street Bears will be breaking down the Grizzlies’ moves in the major transaction areas: draft, free agency, and trades. We’ll also assign an overall grade, factoring all three, with other (in)tangibles like the overall salary cap, opportunity cost, and fan interest/League Pass factor.
Grizzlies Draft
#2 – Ja Morant
Ja Morant is a massive prize for Memphis, who leaped 6 or 7 spots in the Draft order, stealing the top PG prospect just as they were forced to deal Mike Conley.
Morant is a high-ceiling freak, both in terms of his vertical leap and potential ability. He combines lethal scoring with visionary playmaking and should be deadly with Jaren Jackson Jr in the pick and roll.
Ja needs to develop a more consistent outside jumper, and can improve his decision making (average shooter from college three, coupled with 5.2 turnovers per game). But he has the makings of a star, came along at the perfect time, and gives the Grizzlies an instant jolt of League Pass appeal.
Grade: A
#21 – Brandon Clarke
While technically acquired via trade, Clarke fits in here as a draftee, in a draft-night deal (Memphis also has enough trades to get to later). A high-impact power forward whose motor and athleticism make up for his lack of height (a not-long 6’8″), Clarke is potentially great late value. The Ringer’s Jonathan Tjarks went as far as “(Clarke) could be one of the best selections of this draft”.
Clarke might be limited in range, but he is a devastating two-way force. Per Deadspin, he somehow had more blocked shots than missed field goals as a junior, while scoring 17.0ppg for Gonzaga.
Clarke’s synergy with Jaren Jackson Jr’s range and length could make for a devastating inside-out combo in small-ball sets. And his hustle and efficient dominance are an appropriate fixture in this Grit N Grind re-build.
Grade: A
Overall Grade: A
Grizzlies Free Agency
Jonas Valanciunas – 3 yrs/$45 million
Memphis got Valanciunas on what seems like a pretty reasonable deal. They avoided committing to the fourth year, taking a per-season rate that seems about on market par.
JV broke out in Memphis, punctuating a career year with simply dominant stat lines down the stretch. Retaining him allows Memphis to further milk their return equity for Marc Gasol. Valanciunas could hold both roster and trade appeal, especially if Golden State’s demise trends the NBA away from small-ball, as some predict.
Jonas gives Memphis options, both in their roster and on the open market. They correctly made keeping him a priority.
Grade: B+
Tyus Jones – 3 yrs/$24 million
This signing needs to be judged in the context of Delon Wright, whom the Grizzlies sign-and-traded to the Dallas Mavericks for future picks and this dude. Jones saves them a bit of money, but it’s hard to prefer this contract to the 3/$29 million Wright signed for.
Minnesota (in Andrew Wiggins cap hell) declined to match the generous offer, making Jones Memphis’ new de-facto backup PG. His playmaking is uber-efficient (led NBA in assist-TO ratio last year), but his shooting is suspect, and he isn’t as versatile as Wright.
Jones in young enough (23) to still yield upside, but Wright’s was less-tapped. Do future picks and $5 million represent enough margin?
Grade: C-
Overall Grade: B-
Grizzlies Trades
Memphis kick-started their hyperactive summer by shipping out a franchise icon, getting a very practical return from Utah. On top of a badly-needed first-rounder (albeit likely a low one), Memphis got back a ton of expiring deals; a virtual hall pass to financial freedom.
It set several other deals in motion while sending Conley to a likely contender. Mere days after Marc Gasol won a title, Memphis set their other franchise player up to do the same. Don’t think that sort of thing goes unnoticed by NBA stars.
Grade: B+
Phoenix’s motives are kind of unclear here. They’re saving bit of money by shrinking Jackson’s salary into Korver’s, and gaining another PG they’ve sorely lacked. But giving up two picks to do so, while also punting on any late blooming by Jackson, seems like a lot to unload. Probably an easy Memphis win.
Grade: A
The Grizzlies were the beneficiaries here of Golden State’s position: with a ton of money committed and in serious flux. Iguodala had to be salary dumped, and Memphis had carved out a bit of room to take him on, while also holding multiple trade exceptions.
The incoming former Finals MVP is an awesome veteran addition to help mold Memphis’ youngsters and doesn’t put them in a financial jam short-term. Pocketing cash and a future pick (the Warriors could be bad by then) only sweetens the haul.
Grade: B+
Memphis finally bought itself a one-way ticket off Chancun. This swap of expiring awful contracts accomplished two things:
- It compartmentalized their expiring deals, increasing flexibility with potential trade partners when shopping the incoming space
- It washed Memphis’ hands of a disastrous signing that killed Grit N Grind and lingered awkwardly over the franchise
Both of those things have to be considered wins, some relief in the settlement of a much-needed divorce.
Grade: A+ Emotionally, B+ overall
As mentioned, the Grizzlies pulled off a trade for the draft rights to Brandon Clarke, flipping Darius Bazley’s draft rights and a 2024 2nd-rounder. They also sent Delon Wright to the Mavericks, in a sign-and-trade for picks and Indian giant Satnam Singh’s draft rights.
Additionally, they shipped CJ Miles to the Washington Wizards for the Ghost of Dwight Howard; who per everybody’s sources is about to get the axe. Also gone is Avery Bradley, who was waived for cap purposes saving Memphis some $10 million.
Overall Grade: A-
Grizzlies Offseason
Overall, the Memphis Grizzlies’ early activity has been generally progressive and productive. Where the Chris Wallace regime spent money and mortgaged the team’s future, this summer has been about sustainability and growth.
Memphis currently sits with just under $121 million committed to 17 roster spots, meaning at least two (and probably many more) of their current players are goners. Dwight Howard is already reported dead weight; flipping the expiring Hill and Plumlee deals seems to be the plan as well.
So far, the front office has accomplished pretty much any realistic goal for their first month: they’ve traded their target players, saved money, gained flexibility, recovered draft equity, and broadened Memphis’ pool of current assets.
They didn’t rush-hire their new coach internally this time around. A well-thought process led to Bucks assistant Taylor Jenkins being picked. The longtime Mike Budenholzer assistant likely has absorbed lots from one of the NBA’s steadiest coaches.
Now the franchise can develop two stud prospects together for perhaps the first time ever. Their ceiling seems sky-high with competent management making forward-thinking moves, rather than blindly throwing money at their problems.
Keeping Delon Wright would have been nice, and Memphis likely hasn’t gotten a lottery pick back from this flurry of activity, but it’s hard to fault much at all about the offseason so far.
With more transactions surely in the near future, Memphis Grizzlies fans can finally feel optimistic about the direction their team is taking. If the Cho & Grunwald era’s introduction has been any sign, more deals should only mean good things for this franchise.