The Memphis Grizzlies have already proven to be a rather active organization this offseason what with the blockbuster trade for Marcus Smart and the free agency acquisition of Derrick Rose.
That said, even with these transactions, there still appear to be some holes within their roster that are in need of filling.
Though the top-billed players have all been snatched up, still residing on the free agency market are a bevy of intriguing talents who, if signed, could realistically establish themselves as quality participants within head coach Taylor Jenkins’ rotation.
With this in mind, here are three players, in specific, that the Grizzlies may want to pursue:
3. Terrence Ross
As mentioned, the Memphis Grizzlies have certainly been active when it comes to their roster-bolstering moves this summer. That said, still they find themselves with two specific rotational needs: wing depth and second-unit scoring.
Terrence Ross could be a low-cost option to address both.
A soon-to-be 12-year veteran, the 32-year-old has made a name for himself by being a trusty spark plug off the pine, wielding the ability to splash it home from deep just as easily as he can hammer it down near the rim.
Since 2018-19, Ross finds himself sporting averages of 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 35.3 percent from distance.
Though he may have lost a step in the electric athleticism department, the wing still shows flashes of being a high-end bench contributor when given consistent action, even dropping a 30-point performance toward the end of his short regular season stint with the Phoenix Suns this past year.
At a veteran’s minimum, Terrence Ross could be viewed as a low-risk, high-reward talent for the Grizzlies’ lacking scoring punch off the bench.
2. Will Barton
The additions of Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose are being heralded for many reasons, but perhaps the most notable is the fact that they are slated to provide much-needed veteran leadership to this youthful Grizzlies squad.
Will Barton could be yet another established elder statesman to bring aboard the roster.
A player who has personally opted to prioritize leadership roles in the past, which is something that was exemplified in his decision to sign with the young Toronto Raptors this past season over legitimate title-contending clubs, the 32-year-old could look at this Memphis team in a similar light, albeit one that has a better shot of embarking on a deep postseason run.
Now, while this aforementioned quality should certainly be seen as a major factor in a hypothetical signing, his on-court production should also be viewed as a desire for the Grizz to bring aboard.
Just one season prior to his rather lowly 2022-23 statistical campaign, Will Barton was one of the most trusty contributors on the Denver Nuggets, posting per-game averages of 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while shooting 36.5 percent from distance.
Assuming last year was just a mere outlier, bringing on the vet could make for a great add both from a leadership and production standpoint.
1. Kelly Oubre Jr.
Of all the remaining free agents from this summer, none seem to have the type of upside and unlocked potential that Kelly Oubre Jr. possesses.
Through eight seasons in the association, the tantalizing wing has proven to be a versatile scoring threat who can seemingly slot into any position from the two down to a small-ball four.
While his averages of 17.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 steals over the last four seasons have certainly been impressive, if he were to ever find a way to lock in on the defensive side of the ball and put his 6-foot-7 frame with a 7-foot-2 wingspan to its full use, adding someone like Oubre Jr. to this young and promising Grizzlies core could be absolutely enchanting.
Considering Memphis’ need for more size and, frankly, improved talent out on the wing, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has deemed the 27-year-old as the club’s “top free-agent target” they could still pursue.
With their bench unit’s middling rankings of 15 in points per game averages (34.8) and 14 in offensive rating (56.3) last season, it’s easy to see why adding an in-his-prime talent coming off a 20.3 point-per-game season is seen as so enticing.
2 Grizzlies who could become first time All-Stars in 2023-24
There are two Memphis Grizzlies players who could find themselves in the running for their first All-Star selections during the 2023-24 season.