3 TPE targets the Memphis Grizzlies must consider pursuing

The Memphis Grizzlies have been one of the more active clubs in the association this offseason with their free agency decisions and wheeling and dealing ways on the trade market.

However, while the most noteworthy move made by the franchise was the deal that landed them veteran guard Marcus Smart, most recently they managed to reap the benefits of another particular summer trade that could, in theory, have equally as grand of an impact on the team.

If their decision to part ways with Dillon Brooks wasn’t viewed as the right move already, then perhaps their acquisition of a traded player exception as a result of their sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets will solidify such a label.

As per the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Grizzlies can now use their newly attained TPE to pursue players attached to contracts no greater than “100% of the pre-trade salary of the traded player,” which, in this case, is Brooks and his $11.4 million payday from last season.

However, as Damichael Cole of Commercial Appeal pointed out, when factoring in Josh Christopher’s 2023-24 salary of $2.4 million (sent over from Houston in the Brooks deal) coupled with the separate Isaiah Todd trade with the Phoenix Suns, GM Zach Kleiman is expected to have roughly $7 million to utilize with the exception.

Though it may not be an exorbitantly high number, around the league there are plenty of players that could be absorbed with this luxury to better bolster head coach Taylor Jenkins’ roster.

Today, we discuss three players, in specific, the Grizzlies should pursue with their new TPE.

TPE targets the Memphis Grizzlies must consider pursuing

3. Rudy Gay ($6.4 Million)

In the twilight years of his playing career, perhaps it could be uplifting and exhilarating to see Rudy Gay come full circle and head back to where his NBA journey started by rejoining the Grizzlies.

If this offseason has taught us anything about Memphis, it’s that they’re looking to surround their young core of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane with veteran presences and locker-room leaders.

Though he may have lost a step or two when it comes to his on-court production, his latest stints both with the San Antonio Spurs (2017-2021) and, most recently, the youthful Utah Jazz (2021-2023) have shown onlookers that the wing is now more than willing to take on a mentorship role.

On top of this, despite not being the 20-plus point nightly scorer he once was in his heyday, Gay has shown that he can still provide serviceable minutes within a rotation, as he has averaged 10.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and half a block per game while shooting 35.3 percent from deep over the last five seasons.

From their desire to add on veterans and bolster their depth at the forward positions to their need for more offensive firepower off the pine (ranked just 15 in both offensive rating (56.3) and points per game (34.8) last season), in many ways, reuniting with Rudy Gay is something that seems to have a considerable amount of logic attached to it.