Memphis Grizzlies: Three free agents to finish the rebuild

1. Juan Hernangomez

It’s probably fair to say that Juan Hernangomez has proved everybody wrong with his most recent run with the Timberwolves. Last season, with the Denver Nuggets, Hernangomez averaged 5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from 3-point line. This season with Minnesota, he’s averaged 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 42.0 percent from 3-point range.

The Grizzlies were in need of some big men coming into this season, and they padded out the bottom half of their lineup sheet with Gorgei Dieng. However, now in the four and five rotation the Grizzlies have another problem; as awful as it may seem, Jaren Jackson Jr. is at least a slight injury concern.

Jackson missed a significant amount of games both this season and last season due to injury, and having him out of the lineup proved to be challenging for Memphis, especially this year. If Memphis is able to persuade Hernangomez to come over from Minnesota then they would have another big man to fill any potential holes with.

Not only that, but Hernangomez would provide a nice boost to Memphis’ bench. Not the defensive player Clarke and Jackson are, Hernangomez is a lights out shooter who could provide some good scoring off the bench.

It will almost certainly prove hard to sway Hernangomez away from Minnesota, but if Memphis is able to do it, then the final stages of their rebuild could be very near complete.