The Grizzlies disappointed their fanbase at the trade deadline when they decided to shed the salary of Marcus Smart's contract and Jake LaRavia's expiring deal. However, that came after apparent conversations with the Phoenix Suns about Kevin Durant's availability.
Grizzlies' general manager Zach Kleiman has mostly kept the status quo of not chasing stars as the team developed its own star trio of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane. Another first-round exit has the team questioning the effectiveness of their core trio as a unit, and other stars look to be available this summer.
The two NBA Finals representatives have built their rosters differently than years past, and the Grizzlies should follow suit if they want to find themselves in their spot for years to come.
Chasing stars is not the move
There is a caveat to this thinking, and that is obtaining a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is arguably the best player in the NBA. Not putting your name in the hat for a franchise-altering player of that caliber wouldn't make sense for a team looking to take the next step.
However, the secondary level of stars that could be on the market this summer might not be a wise move. The Grizzlies will likely go over the salary cap this offseason, and thus begin the clock of them consolidating their roster to fit three max-level players.
Seeing as those players have maxed out at a second-round exit three years ago, looking to move one to add multiple players that can provide depth would be the wise move. The Grizzlies had one of the NBA's deepest rosters during their successful first half of the regular season before injuries and trades diminished their depth.
When the Grizzlies were first eliminated, reports surfaced that they would look to acquire either Utah's Lauri Markkanen or Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis. As intriguing as players of that caliber are to their team, their $40 million salaries will keep the Grizzlies in their same position of adding just a single player, while depleting their depth to obtain them.
The Grizzlies have done a good job of developing young talent with Jaylen Wells, Zach Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr., Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson, and Cam Spencer in tow. Continuing to develop those players while adding veteran experience around either their whole core, or using one to add more to a duo of their current core trio, would be what could give the Grizzlies their best shot at contention for multiple years.