Memphis Grizzlies Offseason Roadmap

I’m going to mail this one in. The Memphis Grizzlies, behind their two stars Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, have enjoyed the best stretch of success in their young franchise’s history. They’ve opened up their offense, playing a mildly faster pace with more reliance on Conley and Gasol’s perimeter prowess. Moving Randolph to the bench has improved the floor spacing and has probably prolonged his career.

So what’s right with this team? They have two top 40 players. Some might go as far as saying they have two top 30 players. Memphis has a good young coach who has endeared himself to the fan base. They have a horde of young players with role player ceilings in JaMychal Green, Deyonta Davis, James Ennis, Wade Baldwin, and Andrew Harrison. That’s probably where it ends for the positive points.

In the current position, this team is devoid of perimeter players and their frontcourt depth is either old, injury-prone, or old and injury-prone. Randolph is 35, Vince Carter is 40, and Brandan Wright and Chandler Parsons played a total of 62 games this past season. Their wing rotation for the majority of the season was Tony Allen, Vince Carter, James Ennis, and Troy Daniels. That’s not going to win you too many more games moving forward, even if they’re anchored by a top ten point guard (tell me I’m wrong and tell Mark Titus, too) and a top five center.

The whole offseason comes down to Fizdale and management answering a key question: can we and do we really need to win a championship? On Episode 25 of The Crevice, my co-host CJ answered the question simply.

In a Western conference environment that has the Golden State juggernaut and the ever-present San Antonio Spurs, what more can you really ask for than staying in playoff contention and motivating an impassioned fan base? Not too much more.

So, the offseason plan is actually quite simple. First, gauge any interest for Conley and Gasol on the trade market. If there’s some team that’s willing to give up significant picks and/or young assets, then it’s something to consider. The next decision is to decide on the futures of Zach Randolph, JaMychal Green, Tony Allen, and Vince Carter. I’d match JaMychal Green up to a low eight figure salary, maybe 4 years, $52 million? I’d part ways with the rest.

That leaves only the mid-level exception for wing depth and maybe another front-court piece, since Memphis has no picks this year in the draft. The Grizzlies could throw a 3 year, $15 million contract at Alan Williams or Terrence Jones and shore up the frontcourt depth behind Gasol, Green, Wright, and Davis. Someone like Ben McLemore may also be interested in signing with the Grizzlies as simply a catch-and-shoot two next to Conley for a cheaper contract.

At this point, the poor health of Chandler Parsons is a bygone conclusion, which has saddled this team with a contract that Memphis can’t move. But even if Parson can give the Grizzlies 60 games of 25 minute production and good shooting and decent playmaking, it’ll be a plus from the wings that the Grizzlies trotted out last year. Memphis will need to be shrewd in its free agency targets this offseason to stay in the playoff picture.