The Memphis Grizzlies made a surprising trade for Marcus Smart this summer, but it has been an otherwise quiet offseason. Dillon Brooks found a new home in Houston, and the Grizzlies added Derrick Rose and Josh Christopher to their mix. Smart is a perfect fit for Grizzlies culture, and he is excited to work with Ja Morant.
Memphis still has work to do before the start of the regular season. They currently have 17 players on guaranteed contracts, and their roster must be cut to 15 before opening night. The Grizzlies could simply waive two players to get below, but that would mean parting with young talent that still has potential.
The Griz want to contend for the championship in 2024. They have zero interest in taking a step back. Morant’s 25-game suspension to start the season does not help, but Memphis believes they are in the hunt. That means getting thinking outside the box to get their roster down to 15 players.
Creative ways Memphis Grizzlies can get under roster limit
5. Turn young talents into a starting-caliber wing
The Grizzlies have a strong and deep roster with one clear hole. Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Steven Adams is a strong starting five that is slightly undersized. Behind Bane, Memphis lacks a strong 3-and-D wing that would allow the team to go small in the playoffs.
Can the Grizzlies package some of their young talent and future draft picks to land a difference-making wing? OG Anunoby is the ideal target, but the Raptors appear to have zero interest in letting him go. Can they drop down a tier and find a capable starter for a reasonable price?
Every team wants multiple 3-and-D wings, so acquiring one is always easier said than done. Expect the Memphis Grizzlies to try, but landing one before the trade deadline is a long shot at best. That is far from the only way they can clear their logjam, though.
4. Salary dump Clarke and Williams
With Desmond Bane agreeing to a $205.9 million extension this summer, the Grizzlies have to worry about the second tax apron. His new deal does not start until the 2024-25 season, but Memphis has to plan if they want to stay under. Going over puts on severe roster restrictions, so the safest bet is avoiding it in advance.
Brandon Clarke is coming off a torn Achilles and just starting a four-year $50 million deal. He has never played more than 24.0 minutes per game and nobody knows how he will return after a significant injury. Memphis could put him on the block as a salary dump and hope that some team believes in his talent enough to acquire him.
Ziaire Williams was the tenth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, but the 21-year-old has looked like a bust so far. His minutes and production decreased in year two, and he does not appear ready to help a contending team. There is a $6.1 million team option in his contract for the 2024-25 season, so teams could view him as an expiring contract.
The Memphis Grizzlies could look to salary dump both players to limit their spending this season and get under the second tax apron next year. It would be a bold strategy that could come back to bite the franchise, but it is an option on the table.
3. Trade Adams in 3 for 1
Steven Adams and Derrick Rose will be the only two players on the Grizzlies roster over 30 years old on opening night. Trading the 6’11 big man makes the most sense because he is the starter that does not fit their timeline.
Marcus Smart turns 30 in March, but they just acquired him and are hoping he can help change the culture. Do not expect Smart to be on the move anytime soon.
Could the Grizzlies trade Steven Adams, two young players, and a first-round draft pick for a center or wing upgrade? Giving up three players and getting one in return allows Memphis to get under the roster limit and improve the talent around Ja Morant.
The Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers have a glut of big men on their rosters, and the Brooklyn Nets have more wings than they can play. All three teams could be Grizzlies trade partners before opening night.
The Memphis Grizzlies could canvas the market for other deals. Steven Adams is one of the best screen-setters and rebounders in the league. There will be interest, but it only makes sense for Memphis if they are getting a significant roster upgrade. That deal could prove difficult to find.
2. Put young talent on the block for future picks
The Memphis Grizzlies have six first-round draft picks since 2020 on their current roster, so no shortage of young talent is waiting to develop. Memphis has so many options that they cannot play them all. Is now the time for the Grizzlies to try to turn some of them back into draft capital?
Instead of waiving a former first-round pick, they should put the player on the trade block. If it nets Memphis a second-round draft pick, that is better than losing the talent with zero return. The Grizzlies have enough young talents that teams will not know who Memphis plans to waive to get below the roster limit.
The Grizzlies are likely helped by their development system in these trades. Organizations know that Memphis takes them from talent prospects to key contributors. Teams may be eager to acquire them and give them additional playing time.
This is creative because the two players the Grizzlies would likely waive are not the two they will be able to trade. Memphis may have to part with a bit of talent, but it gives them future capital to use as Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. reach their primes.
1. Go superstar hunting
The Memphis Grizzlies have five first-round draft picks to offer in a trade and four swaps if the right name becomes available, and that does not count the young premium talent on their roster. They are in a position to have one of the top offers if a superstar hits the market.
Damian Lillard, James Harden, and Pascal Siakam all appear to be on the block right now, but none are the perfect fit for the Grizzlies. If names like Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, or Karl-Anthony Towns become available, the Grizzlies could quickly jump in on the action. That would likely mean trading multiple players and draft picks for one transcendent player.
Will one of those targets become available before opening night? It is impossible to say. Superstar trade requests often come as a surprise and some get dealt with rather swiftly. The Griz can hold out hope, but there is no guarantee.
How will the Memphis Grizzlies get down to 15 players before opening night? The most likely option is cutting two players at the end of training camp, but everything is on the table right now. Will they get clever to clear their logjam? Stay tuned to find out.
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