Beale Street Bears
Fansided

Grizzlies reporter drops intel on team's desires regarding final roster spot

The Memphis Grizzlies front office is playing the long game with their 15 and final roster spot.

By Mark Nilon

Mar 6, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins looks on during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins looks on during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit

Following their NBA Draft decision-making and the recent trade of Ziaire Williams to the Brooklyn Nets, the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves with 14 players attached to full-time contracts heading into next season.

After several weeks of free agency and with a couple of months separating now and the start of training camp, it appears Zach Kleiman and company are keeping their plans regarding the 15 and final roster slot somewhat under wraps, as team beat reporter Damichael Cole revealed on a July 24 episode of Locked on Grizzlies that there's still no real indication of how exactly they plan on using the vacancy.

Grizzlies want to keep 15 and final roster spot open... for now

According to Cole's sources, "the Grizzlies want to leave one roster spot open for a while."

The trusty reporter would continue on to note that no one has informed him of how long the franchise desires to leave the available roster spot untouched, as he said it could be open "going into training camp" or this may just be a way for Memphis to see "how things unfold over the next few weeks."

While there's no clear indication as to which way the Grizzlies are leaning, one player fans and pundits have been keeping an eye on over the past several weeks has been current free agent sharpshooter Luke Kennard, who has been residing on the open market since the franchise declined his fourth and final year option for 2024-25.

To many, the trade that sent Ziaire Williams to Brooklyn was believed to be a cap-shedding move in an effort to better position the club to re-up with Kennard's services on a longer-term, team-friendly deal, as his original $14.7 million salary heading into next season would have thrust them into the luxury tax.

Since arriving in Grind City mid-way through the 2022-23 campaign, Kennard has become a fixture within the team's offensive scheme, and has sported impressive averages of 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on 48.3 percent shooting from distance.

manual

Home/Grizzlies News