Memphis Grizzlies offseason issued ‘one word’ descriptor

GM Zach Kleiman was quite active this summer, as he opted to strike on several splashy and tactical moves that, for the most part, have been praised by both media pundits and fans of the Memphis Grizzlies organization.

And while there have been many different takes on how to label the club’s offseason as a whole, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz recently summarized things with a rather punny one-word description: “Smart.”

Grizzlies’ offseason receives a humorous yet accurate one-word descriptor

While mainly focusing on the blockbuster trade acquisition of Marcus Smart and how he’ll fill in as a quality replacement for superstar Ja Morant at the starting one while he serves out his 25-game suspension, as well as how the front office managed to hold onto a majority of their key players from last season in the process, Swartz argues that the Grizzlies have set themselves up quite nicely to have a rather successful 2023-24 campaign.

"“Smart’s 6’9″ wingspan and overall strength should allow Memphis to easily play three-guard lineups along with Desmond Bane, who the Grizzlies extended for five years after his breakout season (21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 40.8 percent from three),” Swartz wrote.“Adding Derrick Rose as another vet in the locker room that Morant can lean on was important as well, and the 34-year-old should still have a rotation role this season. Memphis added a key starter to this group without sacrificing any major players outside of Tyus Jones, who was heading for free agency next summer. Overall, a really nice job by the Grizzlies.”"

While the loss of Tyus Jones in the Smart trade (dealt to the third-party Washington Wizards) may be viewed as the one loss that has truly stung this offseason for the Grizzlies, ironically the far-more noteworthy and attention-grabbing departure of Dillon Brooks in the sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets has actually been widely praised by analysts.

Swartz’s own B/R cohort Greg Swartz even suggested back in July that Kleiman and company dodged a bullet by allowing their polarizing wing to be snatched up on what is labeled as “the worst contract handed out in free agency,” holding a value of $86 million spanning over the next four seasons.

Considering how well the team’s decision-makers have handled things over the last several months, it’s hard to argue against the notion that Memphis had themselves one of the more strategic and intelligible offseasons when compared to the rest of the league.

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