Beale Street Bears
Fansided

5 players the Grizzlies never should have signed

By Elaine Blum

PHOENIX - DECEMBER 15: Darko Milicic #31 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw shot against the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 15, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 128-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX - DECEMBER 15: Darko Milicic #31 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw shot against the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 15, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 128-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Apr 1, 2022; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Ben McLemore (23) shoots in front of San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) in the second half at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2022; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Ben McLemore (23) shoots in front of San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) in the second half at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Ben McLemore

After the Sacramento Kings declined Ben McLemore’s player option, the Grizzlies signed him to a $10.66 million deal in 2017.

Many fans hoped that a fresh start would unlock his potential and give the club a fresh young player to develop.

They were disappointed.

Some even went as far as calling McLemore the worst player on the team at the time. The reason for his struggles could simply have been the fact that he started the season off with an injury and never got a chance to find his footing. In August 2017, he fractured his foot during a pickup game and missed 12 weeks.

Once he recovered, the former lottery pick averaged 7.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game.

He struggled noticeably on defense and to effectively create his own shot, leading many fans to believe that the team was better off without him. They are not necessarily wrong, for, while McLemore was out, the Grizzlies went 15-11. When he played, they had a record of 7-49.

That said, there are other reasons for their disappointing 2017-18 run.

Mike Conley, for example, missed most of the season due to injury and in the offseason, they lost veterans Tony Allen, Vince Carter, and Zach Randolph.

Nevertheless, McLemore was not worth the money the Grizzlies paid him and was eventually moved in 2018 along with other assets in exchange for Garrett Temple.

It seems that the Grizzlies could have used that money on someone else and maybe get some more production.

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