Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies may be a little more active prior to the start of the 2021-22 NBA season.

Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor reported Sunday the Grizzlies have made Dillon Brooks and Kyle Anderson available "for the right price."

Fedor noted Memphis has 18 players under contract, which is more than the NBA maximum. As a result, some departures will be required before opening night.

That the Grizzlies would be willing to part with Brooks or Anderson seemingly signals a desire to net a solid asset in return, be it another rotation piece or a valuable draft pick.

Brooks was the team's second-leading scorer (17.2 points) and shot 34.4 percent from beyond the arc. Anderson, meanwhile, did a little bit of everything, averaging 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals.

They were both regular starters for the Grizzlies in 2020-21, and that figures to remain the case for the year ahead.

The Grizzlies have progressed nicely and may even be ahead of schedule, getting to the playoffs in Ja Morant's second season.

In order to reach the next level, general manager Zach Kleiman will need to make some difficult decisions. There might come a time when Kleiman needs to upgrade from Brooks and/or Anderson.

The contract status of both players might be a factor in the details Fedor reported. Anderson is eligible for free agency in 2022, and Brooks is due to hit the market in 2023.

Properly managing the salary cap and payroll is imperative for a non-marquee franchise such as Memphis. Chandler Parsons' ill-fated run was a prime example of how taking a big swing and whiffing can be a significant blow.

Neither Anderson nor Brooks figures to collect a deal similar to Parsons' four-year, $94 million contract, but they'll be in a good position to earn pay raises. Anderson will make $9.9 million this season, and Brooks is due to earn $11.4 million in his final year.

When push comes to shove, Kleiman may be wary of limiting his financial flexibility as he looks to continue building around Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Memphis Grizzlies' biggest move of the 2021 offseason likely made them worse this season.

Memphis traded Jonas Valanciunas and the No. 17 pick in this year's NBA draft to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams and the No. 10 selection. The Grizzlies then drafted Ziaire Williams with that pick.

All told, the Grizzlies picked up Adams' $17.9 million salary in 2022-23 and Bledsoe's contract ($18.1 million this season, $3.9 million guaranteed next) to move up seven spots in the draft. It doesn't seem to be a particularly strong trade, but Williams' development will determine a lot of how we view the deal years from now.

The Grizz were also quiet in free agency, essentially running things back aside from the aforementioned deal. 

While there's something to be said for natural progression, it's fair to wonder if Memphis takes a bit of a  step back this season. Here's a look at what to expect from the Grizzlies in 2021-22.

   

2021-22 Grizzlies Schedule Details

Season opener: Wed., Oct. 20 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 8 p.m. ET

Championship Odds: +8500 (via FanDuel)

Full Schedule: NBA.com              

The Verzuz you've all been waiting for.

72 hour single game flash sale starts at 3pm ➡️ https://t.co/rpLIJ0ZuHw pic.twitter.com/cK9YxnEX3l

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) August 20, 2021

    

Top Matchups

New Orleans Pelicans (First game: Nov. 13)

The aforementioned trade adds a wrinkle to a matchup that is always interesting. The Zion Williamson-Ja Morant comparisons will probably follow them throughout their respective careers. After Morant pulled ahead of Williamson during their rookie campaigns, Zion was dominant to overtake the "lead" in development after Year 2.

This should be an even more telling season for both players. They're no longer the new kids in town; they're the faces of their respective franchises and carry expectations.

Williamson needs to make a playoff push in his third season or there could already be rumblings of his desire to head elsewhere. Morant needs to find a shooting touch from distance or he's at risk of his development stalling out at below-All-Star level.

These are still very young players, but there's a weight of expectation following them around every night.

       

Season Forecast

The Grizzlies got worse this offseason. There's no other way around it. They clearly didn't want to pay the premium for Valanciunas in free agency and decided this was the best short-term route to stay competitive and move up in the draft.

It's possible Williams develops into a player who makes the whole thing worth it, but I'm skeptical.

As it stands, the Grizzlies are no better than the team that barely squeaked into the playoffs last season. They're probably going to be in the play-in mix again, but that's it. There's no area where an obvious leap can take place to take them into the 4-5 conversation.

Memphis very quietly had one of the worst offseasons in the NBA. 

  

Record Prediction: 39-43

  

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Patrick Beverley was a Memphis Grizzly for less than 48 hours.

The Grizzlies agreed to trade Beverley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jarrett Culver and Juancho Hernangomez, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Memphis acquired Beverley from the Clippers on Sunday as part of a deal that sent Eric Bledsoe to Los Angeles. Bledsoe had been acquired in a trade this offseason along with Steven Adams and the No. 10 overall pick for Jonas Valanciunas and the No. 17 selection.

The Grizzlies are buying low on Culver, who has struggled since being taken with the sixth pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He averaged 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 2020-21 while seeing his playing time slashed to 14.7 minutes per game. The Texas Tech product also missed 38 games due to injury.

Shooting woes have been Culver's biggest issue, as he's hit just 28.8 percent of his threes as a pro.

Hernangomez is a solid rotation big who can space the floor in limited minutes. He'll likely be on the floor in more offense-oriented lineups because Adams doesn't do much away from the basket. There's likely some level of hope he can develop into a Valanciunas-lite, and there's no harm if he struggles because his contract for 2022 is non-guaranteed.

The Wolves acquiring Beverley seems like a move designed to inject intensity into the team culture. It's unlikely Minnesota finds itself in playoff contention in a deep Western Conference, but Beverley's never-ending motor could be the type of jolt needed to shake up the locker room.

If the experiment fails, the Wolves can probably flip Beverley again around the trade deadline to a playoff team and net a couple of second-round picks or even a heavily protected first. 

The Memphis Grizzlies are stockpiling point guards for next season after reportedly acquiring Rajon Rondo and Patrick Beverley. 

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Beverley, Rondo and Daniel Oturu will go to the Grizzlies with the Los Angeles Clippers receiving Eric Bledsoe in return. 

Wojnarowski added the Grizzlies are "open-minded on the futures" of all three players they will receive in the trade, including the possibility of additional trades at some point. 

Grizzlies Active Roster and Average Salary

Steven Adams, C: $17,073,171

Patrick Beverley, PG: $14,320,989

Dillon Brooks, SG: $12,200,000

Kyle Anderson, SF: $9,937,150

Ja Morant, PG: $9,603,360

Jaren Jackson Jr., PF: $9,180,560

De'Anthony Melton, SG: $8,805,976

Tyus Jones, PG: $8,376,286

Rajon Rondo, PG: $8,250,000

Ziaire Williams, SG: $4,373,160

Brandon Clarke, SF: $2,726,880

John Konchar, SG: $2,200,000

Desmond Bane, SG: $2,033,160

Santi Aldama, PF: $1,994,520

Sam Merrill, SG: $1,517,981 (non-guaranteed)

Daniel Oturu, C: $1,517,981

Xavier Tillman, PF: $1,517,981

Assuming all three players remain on Memphis' roster for the time being, the main attraction for the organization in this deal is cap flexibility after next season. 

The Grizzlies have a number of big decisions to make that will require them to have maximum cap flexibility. Notably, Jaren Jackson Jr. is eligible for a rookie extension this offseason. 

General manager Zach Kleiman has told reporters getting a new deal done with Jackson is a priority. 

"I think we're going to be our best selves over time with Jaren," Kleiman said earlier this month. "Spacing the floor, attacking, creating, defensively taking advantage of the versatility he brings to the table."

The biggest looming deal for the Grizzlies, though, will be Ja Morant's extension. He is eligible to sign an extension next summer worth up to $173 million over five years. 

Prior to this trade, the Grizzlies had $88.09 million in salary commitments on their books for 2022-23. 

Bledsoe's current contract has a partial guarantee of $3.9 million in 2022-23. That turns into a $19.375 million deal if he's on the roster on June 30, 2022, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. 

By taking the $3.9 million partial guarantee for Bledsoe off the books, the Grizzlies could have just $85 million in salary commitments next season.

Beverley is set to make $14.3 million in 2021-22, the final year of his contract. Rondo will earn $7.5 million next season before becoming a free agent in the summer of 2022. Oturu is making a minimum salary of $1.52 million in the upcoming season and has a $1.92 million qualifying offer for 2022-23. 

The 33-year-old Beverley has been a classic three-and-D player during his nine years in the NBA, shooting 38.2 percent from three-point range in his career while being named to three All-Defense teams. He was first-team All-Defense in 2016-17 while a member of the Houston Rockets.

The defensive prowess has been a hallmark of Beverley's game throughout his career, often getting under the skin of opposing players with his hard-nosed play. 

This skill set is a reason he has remained a key part of the Clippers rotation despite modest offensive numbers. He averaged just 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game during his injury-filled 2020-21 season, but the Clippers were still 9.1 points better per 100 possessions when he was on the court, per Basketball Reference. 

Only All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George had better numbers among Clippers players last season.

Rondo was acquired by Los Angeles at the trade deadline to provide head coach Tyronn Lue with another veteran player for the stretch run. He played well in a limited role during the regular season, averaging 7.6 points on 43.2 percent three-point shooting and 5.8 assists in 18 games the Clippers. 

Regardless of what the Grizzlies decide to do with their new acquisitions, this trade should have very positive long-term ramifications on the franchise if they can re-sign Morant and Jackson. 

The Memphis Grizzlies reportedly reached an agreement to trade guard Grayson Allen to the reigning NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks for guard Sam Merrill and two future second-round draft picks.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the deal Friday.

Allen's role has steadily grown across three seasons since the Utah Jazz selected him in the first round of the 2018 draft. He averaged 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 50 appearances (38 starts) for the Grizzlies last season. He ranked 22nd among shooting guards in ESPN's real plus-minus.

The 25-year-old Duke product has made his largest impact as an outside shooter. He's knocked down 38.1 percent of his career three-point attempts and made 2.1 threes per game for Memphis in 2020-21. In five playoff games, he made 1.6 treys at a 38.1 percent clip.

Allen will likely take the rotation spot vacated by Bryn Forbes, who averaged 1.7 threes on 37.1 percent shooting in 20 games during the Bucks' postseason run to the title. In 70 regular-season games, including 10 starts, he made 2.2 threes on 45.2 percenting shooting. Forbes departed in free agency to rejoin the San Antonio Spurs, with whom he spent the first four seasons of his career.

Three-point shooting around the core trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday is a key reason Milwaukee captured its first championship since 1971.

Meanwhile, Merrill could have a better opportunity to carve out a consistent role with Memphis.

The 2020 second-round pick played a bit role during his rookie season, with just 7.8 minutes per game across 30 appearances. He also played five contests for the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies' G League affiliate, averaging 11.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

He'll likely compete with Desmond Bane and De'Anthony Melton for minutes to open the 2021-22 campaign.

The Grizzlies also landed a couple of second-round choices to bolster their future roster-building efforts after posting a 38-34 record last season and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17.

The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly looking to trade up in Thursday's 2021 NBA draft again after acquiring the No. 10 pick in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported Monday the Grizzlies are trying to get high enough in the draft order to land either Jonathan Kuminga or James Bouknight.

The deal with the Pelicans, which also saw Memphis acquire Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe and a top-10 protected pick in the 2022 draft via the Los Angeles Lakers, gives the Grizz a potential for three first-round selections in next year's draft in addition to the top-10 pick Thursday night.

That's a lot of draft capital to keep adding talent around a core that posted a 38-34 record to earn a playoff berth during the 2020-21 season. The Grizzlies were knocked out in the opening round of the postseason by the Utah Jazz.

Kuminga, 18, spent last season in the G League and held his own against pro competition. The versatile forward averaged 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists across 13 appearances. Offensive efficiency is a concern as he shot just 38.7 percent from the field, including 24.6 percent on threes.

"I know for sure I'm a top-five pick, but I'm not worried about that," Kuminga told reporters last week. "The NBA teams didn't drop me, that's just the rankings. We don't know where I'm going to end up, so I'm not really concerned about dropping because I don't really look into it. I know for sure I haven't dropped; that's just how I see things."

He may not be a top-five pick in the end because of a star-studded class of prospects, led by Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes, but he's a virtual lock to land inside the top 10.

The story is much the same for Bouknight, a dynamic guard who struggled with his shot across two seasons at UConn. The 20-year-old New York City native shot 45.6 percent from the field and 32 percent on threes in 43 games for the Huskies.

"I think I'm a player that can go into the league and, right away, make an impact," he told reporters Monday. "I'm not saying it's going to be sweet and I'll be a killer from day one. There are definitely going to be rookie curves, and adjusting."

The Grizzlies have a strong core in place with Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks and Jaren Jackson Jr., so they can afford to take a player like Kuminga or Bouknight, who have ample talent but might need a couple years of experience before they become high-impact players in the NBA.

It's possible one of them slides to No. 10 even if Memphis can't trade up again, but the team's front office may not want to take that risk of waiting.

With days to go until the 2021 NBA draft, the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans reshaped the first round a bit.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the teams are nearing a deal in which New Orleans will acquire Jonas Valanciunas and the Nos. 17 and 51 picks in the upcoming draft. Memphis will receive Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, a protected 2022 first-rounder and the Nos. 10 and 40 picks this year. According to Andrew Lopez of ESPN, the 2022 pick is top-10 protected from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported the Grizzlies are expected to quickly jettison Bledsoe when the trade goes through.

Here's what the two teams are expected to look like after the swap:

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Memphis Grizzlies Depth Chart

PG: Ja Morant, Tyus Jones, Tim Frazier

SG: Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, De'Anthony Melton

SF: Kyle Anderson, Desmond Bane, Justise Winslow

PF: Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke

C: Steven Adams, Xavier Tillman, Killian Tillie

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New Orleans Pelicans Depth Chart

PG: Lonzo Ball, Kira Lewis Jr.

SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, James Nunnally

SF: Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Naji Marshall, Wes Iwundu

PF: Zion Williamson, James Johnson, Wenyen Gabriel

C: Jonas Valanciunas, Jaxson Hayes, Willy Hernangomez

The first-round pick going to Memphis was part of the Anthony Davis trade in 2019. Weep not for the Pelicans because they still have a bevy of first-rounders to either use or turn into trade assets.

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Pelicans First-Round Picks

2021: Grizzlies (No. 17)

2022: Own, Lakers

2023: Own or Pick Swap (Lakers)

2024: Own or Pick Swap (Bucks), Lakers*

2025: Own, Bucks, Lakers*

2026: Own or Pick Swap (Bucks)

2027: Own, Bucks

2028: Own

*The Pelicans have the opportunity to take the Lakers' first-rounder in 2024 or 2025

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That provides the front office with a lot of flexibility. New Orleans can either continue making smaller improvements, such as replacing Adams with Valanciunas, or it can take a big swing on an All-Star looking to move.

The latter scenario seems the most probably because it's likely to get the Pelicans closer to an NBA title. The Milwaukee Bucks' championship probably doesn't happen if they don't push all of their chips in on Jrue Holiday.

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, move up seven spots and thus get the chance to augment their roster with another young star alongside Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

I like this for both. Jonas V is really good, tough, and shoots 3s. Much better fit for the Pelicans next to Zion. But man, I can’t wait to see what the Grizzlies do at #10. Memphis has hit on every draft pick in recent years. Tons of talent available mid-lotto that fits with Ja. https://t.co/gHoXkyo8CI

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 26, 2021

Using last year as a comparison, Aleksej Pokusevski was the No. 17 overall pick. Tyrese Haliburton, Cole Anthony and Isaiah Stewart all went between Nos. 10-16. Cameron Johnson, Cam Reddish and Tyler Herro fell within that zone in 2019.

Memphis probably isn't getting a foundational talent at No. 10, but the pool of prospects available to general manager Zach Kleiman is a little larger. These are the kind of marginal gains franchises in smaller markets should always look to exploit.

The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly so determined to trade Eric Bledsoe that they'll move back in the draft to get it done. 

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported the Pelicans "have generated traction" in talks that would see them send Bledsoe and the No. 10 pick in Thursday's draft to Memphis in exchange for the No. 17 selection. Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium confirmed the talks, saying the Grizzlies have explored moving up in the draft.

It's a trade that, frankly, would not make a great amount of sense for either side. 

The Grizzlies have cap flexibility coming into this summer, but that's not going to last very long. Jaren Jackson Jr. is due for an extension that will kick in next offseason, and Ja Morant's deal will come a year after. While the contracts of Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Anderson come off the books in 2022, those are two very solid role players the Grizzlies may want to retain.

Adding Bledsoe essentially strips the Grizzlies of their financial flexibility this offseason, in what could be their final window of flexibility for the foreseeable future.

Memphis would be better served taking a page out of the Atlanta Hawks' book and spend free agency focusing on impact veterans who can improve the roster for a deeper playoff run.

The Pelicans trading Bledsoe and moving back in the draft would feel like an incredibly desperate maneuver. Only $3.9 million of Bledsoe's 2022-23 salary is guaranteed. New Orleans could eat that money for next season and not have to trade out of the lottery to make it happen.

The Pelicans aren't a team that's a player away from championship contention, and it's hard to fathom how moving back seven spots helps their future or their present. 

The NBA announced its first and second team All-Defensive selections on Monday, with players like Rudy Gobert and Ben Simmons highlighting the first team. 

But Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant was disappointed his teammate, Dillon Brooks, did make either squad:

y'all forgot somebody... 🦹🏼‍♂️ https://t.co/P8EPr1rzh1 pic.twitter.com/iPIikAr1yi

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) June 14, 2021

Brooks received just three second-team votes, falling well short of being selected:

NYK’s Julius Randle (4 second-team votes) & Nerlens Noel (1 second-team vote) both received All Defensive Team votes. Full list of players who received votes but didn’t make a team are here (total points include the votes a player received outside of his listed position): pic.twitter.com/aGxiqMRvjY

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 14, 2021

It's hard to argue for Brooks ahead of any of the selections. Perhaps there will be the argument that Thybulle, who came off the bench all season and played just 20 minutes per game, shouldn't have been selected. But in a reserve role, Thybulle averaged a ridiculous 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. 

A guard, in reserve minutes, averaging over a block a game is borderline unheard of. Brooks had a good season, but cracking the All-Defensive team was a tall order this year.

Despite eliminating his son's team on Wednesday night, Tee Morant is pulling for the Utah Jazz to win the NBA championship. 

Speaking to Donovan Mitchell on the court after Utah's 126-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5, Morant expressed his appreciation for how the organization responded after fans made racist and vulgar comments toward his family during a game earlier in the series:

Tee Morant to Donovan Mitchell: “Y’all didn’t have to show us love like that. ... That’s why I hope the Jazz win the championship.”

Mitchell told ESPN, “For me, it was just the ultimate sign of respect.”

ESPN story: https://t.co/5iIPCGO485 pic.twitter.com/O977v5bB0d

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 3, 2021

The Jazz announced on May 28 that three fans have been banned from attending events at Vivint Arena for their actions during Game 2 of the Western Conference playoff series against Memphis. 

Grizzlies star Ja Morant tweeted that his "family should be able cheer for me & my teammates without getting inappropriate s--t said to them."

Tee Morant told ESPN's Tim MacMahon that the fans' comments went "beyond heckling" and were "too far out of line."

Tee explained one fan made sexually explicit comments toward his wife, and another said he would "put a nickel in your back and watch you dance, boy."

Prior to Game 5, MacMahon and Malika Andrews reported Jazz owner Ryan Smith provided Ja's family and friends complimentary courtside tickets, hotel lodgings and car service to the arena. 

Memphis Grizzlies and Morant family... we are embarrassed and sorry. The @UtahJazz have zero tolerance for offensive behavior. We are committed to creating a respectful, competitive environment. https://t.co/cLsKWSk1l1

— Ryan Smith (@RyanQualtrics) May 28, 2021

Tee told MacMahon and Andrews that his wife, Jamie, didn't attend the game because "her anxiety couldn't take it" following what happened in Game 2. 

The Jazz advanced to the second round of the playoffs with their win on Wednesday night. They will take on the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers-Dallas Mavericks series.