The Memphis Grizzlies don’t have an excess of options this year in free agency. With a full roster and limited cap space, they’re restricted to three options: make no changes, sign an unproven player, or sign an aging veteran.
An inevitable trade involving Eric Gordon could open things right up but as of right now, there are no apparent signings on the horizon.
That said, it’s worth taking a look into what might be a possibility for Memphis when this trade inevitably happens. So assuming the Grizzlies trade away multiple players in exchange for draft picks, here’s one hypothetical scenario.
The Memphis Grizzlies should consider signing Hamidou Diallo, even if the team is stockpiled with wings already
Right now, the Grizzlies technically have eight rostered wing players. Those players are Eric Bledsoe, Ziaire Williams, Dillon Brooks, De’Anthony Melton, Grayson Allen, Desmond Bane, John Konchar, and Sean McDermott. Not a lot of room for another wing.
That said, we can assume Bledsoe will be gone sooner rather than later, and with him, the Grizzlies may choose to ship off Grayson Allen or another wing to get a better deal out of whichever team they choose to trade with.
In case this does happen, Memphis should have a plan to add wing depth for some semblance of consistency. That depth could go by the name of Hamidou Diallo, or so Edward Alan Marlowe of WKDZ Radio thinks.
One guy I'd really like to see the Memphis Grizzlies acquire this offseason: Hamidou Diallo.
— Edward Alan Marlowe (@dreamarlowe85) August 3, 2021
Athletic, downhill player who had a nice 2020-21 season.
The positives of having Diallo on the roster aren’t necessarily aligned with the fact that he could have an impact on the floor. In all likelihood, he’d be buried pretty deep on the bench. That said, he would be invaluable in the development of Ziaire Williams as an athletic wing player that can teach Williams to play downhill basketball.
Right now, the Grizzlies don’t really have an athletic wing outside of Williams, their newest acquisition. Their best athlete is probably Grayson Allen, who seems to pick three or four games per season to show off his athleticism. Outside of that, he’s a pure shooter who rarely enters the painted area.
Diallo could join the Memphis Grizzlies and with him, bring 11 points, 5 rebounds, and nearly a steal per game. A lineup with him, Ziaire Williams, Ja Morant, and Jaren Jackson Jr. would be virtually unguardable from an athleticism point of view. Diallo’s floor is an energy player who hardly plays. His ceiling is the third member of a lob city trio including himself, Morant, and Williams.
The Grizzlies shouldn’t go out of their way to approach 6-5, nearly 7-foot wingspanned Diallo until a trade happens. That said, he is a player within budget who could fill a spot on the roster that could keep opposing defense on their heels.
The downside is that Diallo will be a restricted free agent — if the Grizzlies send an offer his way, the Pistons have the right to match it.