Memphis Grizzlies: 5 big questions for the 2020-21 season
By AJ Salah
5. Will the front office stand pat?
Zach Kleiman set a very encouraging precedent in his first offseason as Grizzlies executive vice president, with his NBA edition of Pawn Stars.
On top of flipping franchise icon Mike Conley for a great return (including, eventually, Brandon Clarke), Kleiman made a multitude of micro-deals, winning virtually all of them. He both fortified Memphis’ talent base and ensured the financial flexibility to retain it.
Unfortunately for the trigger-happy GM (and thus Grizzlies fans), his follow-up effort was cut short by the NBA’s decision to bisect the offseason on zero notice.
One has to wonder if Kleiman had ideas in the pipeline that were unable to materialize. He could let this team test its ceiling without further tinkering, but doesn’t seem much like the “laissez-faire” type.
An early-season move seems unlikely, with Memphis’ rotation relatively established, and both upside and identity to cultivate. The Grizzlies are miles ahead of any realistic rebuild timetable. The onus to “win now” is far less urgent for them than, say, the Phoenix Suns or Minnesota Timberwolves.
But as the trade deadline approaches, Gorgui Dieng’s expiring $17 million deal may field some desperate offers, with no cap growth for 2020-21, and an absolutely stacked 2021 free agency class.