NBA Free Agency: Memphis Grizzlies should target pair of Milwaukee backups

Memphis Grizzlies should pursue Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton

Of this list, Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis could be ideal targets that fit needs, and the Grizzlies would likely not have to break the bank to land them. However, one or both players would have to decline their option to play another year with Milwaukee at the same salary.

Ayton would be nice, but he’s likely to command $100 million+ from a team. Do the Grizzlies really want to have three players each making nine figures (Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant, and hypothetically Ayton) at the same time?

Biyombo could be interesting, but he’s pretty limited on offense. He’s also a bit undersized at 6’8″ and the Grizzlies have that role filled with Brandon Clarke— whose skills better suit this team.

Connaughton and Portis are both proven commodities and champions that know what it takes to get to the Finals and win. I would imagine in a weak free agency class, these two players will opt out and see if they can get nice pay raises, making them unrestricted free agents.

Connaughton, a 6’5″ guard with 8 seasons of experience, made $5.33 million last season with the Bucks and Portis, a 6’10” forward with 8 seasons of experience, made $4.45 million last season.

The Grizzlies could have the room to nearly double each of their pay and draft a backup point guard in the 2022 NBA Draft to reload their roster for a deep playoff run in 2022-23. The Grizzlies could have somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million in cap space this offseason, according to Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.