Grizzly Grades: Memphis Grizzlies’ 2019-20 NBA Season
By AJ Salah
Cap Management
Last but not least, we have the books. It’s not all fun and games when you run out of money, just ask Antoine Walker.
The Grizzlies’ cap management this year needs to be analyzed in two halves, both of which had positive – if convoluted – outcomes. First is last summer’s compartmentalizing of massive contracts, shipping out Chandler Parsons and getting a bunch of expiring deals for Mike Conley.
This bought Memphis both short and long-term flexibility in making future trades. It also loosened the financial burden in a small market, which, impossible to know at the time, was about to become VERY important.
Last summer set the table for the second half: Memphis’ trade deadline, where the Grizzlies effectively got two birds stoned at once. They cashed in Andre Iguodala and immediate cap space for Justise Winslow, who, if healthy, would be a long-term piece. In doing so they pivoted, forfeiting their cap space for 2020’s dust free agency class (and what will now be the weirdest market ever).
This gives the Grizzlies another year to congeal and better-assess their needs, before eventually attacking 2021’s multi-platinum class with true cap room and an appealing roster.
Exactly how much room remains to be seen, after COVID-19 put a serious clamp on the basketball-related income that dictates the salary cap, and will continue to. Even assuming zero growth from this year’s $109 million figure, Memphis would (currently) be about $27 million under the cap. If Winslow doesn’t pan out, his team option will be declined, freeing up another $13 million.
While that may seem like max-player money, it must be remembered that Memphis’ three most important guys are still on rookie deals. It will eventually be far more expensive to keep them around, and the front office is proceeding as such, freeing up money for down the road.
Next. Grizzlies teammate predicts multiple titles in Morant's future. dark
It took a lot of wheeling and dealing to get here, but the payoff has been a very sustainable long-term situation for the Grizzlies.