The NBA offseason is expected to be the most chaotic the league has ever seen, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The Memphis Grizzlies expect to be in the mix of all the chaos, should it come true following general manager Zach Kleiman's exit interview comment about their season being "disappointing."
The Grizzlies have some flexibility in terms of salary cap room to sign a player to a mid-level exception, while also possessing the talent to go star hunting, at the expense at one of their core players. Even when thinking about the rest of their roster, they have young players that other teams could be intrigued by.
The likelihood of the Grizzlies obtaining a star-level talent, something that hasn't been done outside of the draft in franchise history, is slim. However, they have talented rotational players who would command attention to help them surround their core with relevant pieces.
1. Brandon Clarke
The Grizzlies' top reserve big man has been a integral piece to the team since drafting him in the first-round of the 2019 draft. Unfortunately, injuries have stunted his effectiveness as he's missed the Grizzlies' last two postseason runs due to season ending injuries in March of 2023 and this year.
He is also coming off his worst season as a pro, averaging less than double-digit points for the first time in his career and a career-low in rebounds.
That can also be attributed to his career-low in minutes distribution as well. Clarke also has the only middle of the pack contract on the team at $12.5 million per year average, that can be included to match in any deal. His inability to develop a three-point shot also makes him expendable for a team that needs more shooting around their star point guard.
2. Santi Aldama
On the flip side of Clarke, Santi Aldama is coming off a career-year as the Grizzlies' leading scorer off the bench with 12.5 points per game. He also shot career-highs across the board and averaged a career-high in rebounds (6.4). However, his inability to become a reliable defender in the low post and on the perimeter haunted the Grizzlies down the stretch of the season.
He was sought out heavily by the Golden State Warriors in their first play-in game and throughout their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder as the weak link. He is a restricted free agent this summer, which means the team can match an offer he receives from another team. If he is offered a contract by another team, the Grizzlies should consider utilizing the sign-and-trade option for a two-way player from the team Aldama signs with.
3. John Konchar
Mr. Reliable is always their when the team needs extra minutes from a player who will do what is needed. Konchar has value as a player that can knock down the open shot, rebound well for his position at his height (6'5"), and not be a liability on the defensive end of the court. However, his $6 million contract can be useful to match salaries in a deal to bring back a more productive player for the team.