Why the Memphis Grizzlies should target Norman Powell in free agency

Would Norman Powell be enough to raise the Memphis Grizzlies to the next level?

Even though the fit seems perfect, there are a few primary concerns if you bring Norman Powell to come play in Memphis. Firstly, there would be a drastic lineup change at hand. In all likelihood, Dillon Brooks would be shifted to the small forward spot and Kyle Anderson would become the team’s sixth man. This seems like the ideal shift, onto the next issue.

Beyond that, the Grizzlies have a few pay days coming up in the near future that could complicate things. The first, and likely most important in the immediate future, is Jaren Jackson Jr. after the 2021-22 season. Depending on his performance next season, he could be a guy who eats up a lot of the Grizzlies’ money.

A year after that, they’ll want to leave room for a Ja Morant contract extension, which is becoming more and more likely to be an extremely large contract.

In that same two-season span, Memphis will also have Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, and Jonas Valanciunas in need of a new contract. In other words, their entire starting lineup is a jeopardy here, which is why I’m suggesting that Memphis should simply target Powell.

This contract situation could complicate signing Norman Powell, who will only become available in free agency by rejecting his $11 million player option. Depending on how much he’s looking be paid, this could be an impossible deal to make for the Grizz.

Pair that with the fact that there’s no guarantee that Powell performs and this may be an unlikely hypothetical. Having said that, it’s worth pursuing if you’re the Memphis Grizzlies’ front office.