Hoops Habit
Fansided

Memphis Grizzlies Face Most Important Offseason In Team History

By D. Goodman

Mar 27, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace and guard Vince Carter watch during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum. Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 107-84. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace and guard Vince Carter watch during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum. Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 107-84. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

It is safe to say that there are very few people who would want to be in the shoes of Memphis Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace this offseason.

More from Memphis Grizzlies

For the fifth year in a row, the Grizzlies have been sent home from the NBA postseason early, this time at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. Memphis won 55 games this season and, despite a mini-collapse during the last part of the season that cost them seeding, many considered this the most complete roster Wallace had assembled.

Unfortunately, after the Grizzlies were sent home, this didn’t stop the critics from once again saying that Memphis is good, just not that good.

To change that, Wallace needs to somehow fix the dual issues that haunted the Grizzlies during the playoffs: a bench that is just not deep enough and a serious lack of outside shooting.

The bench issue was thrust into the spotlight the moment guard Mike Conley went down in Game 3 of the team’s series against the Portland Trail Blazers. While Nick Calathes and Beno Udrih can fill the void admirably during the regular season, they just aren’t good enough to win at the next level when it’s most important.

The same situation reared its ugly head when Tony Allen missed games during the Warriors series due to a hamstring injury. Replacements Jeff Green and Vince Carter couldn’t perform at the same level and before you knew it, the Grizzlies were packing up their lockers.

As for outside shooting, all you need do is look at how Memphis was outshot from beyond the arc by Stephen Curry and the Warriors to see how important it has become in the modern NBA. If the Grizzlies ever want to have a chance of returning to the Western Conference finals, much less the NBA Finals, they need to fix this glaring issue.

If you watch the highlights from Game 6 you can see that clear as day.

Now, as if that wasn’t enough for Wallace to have to deal with, there are the contract issues. Not just normal contract issues, but deals that could have a lasting and profound effect on this franchise for years to come.

Memphis has to make a decision as to whether to extend a qualifying offer to Calathes or let him sign elsewhere. Jon Leuer, Russ Smith and JaMychal Green all have team options and the Grizzlies need to decide if they are worth exercising. Kosta Koufos is an unrestricted free agent that could simply walk or decide to re-sign with Memphis.

And then there is Marc Gasol.

Gasol is an unrestricted free agent and the Grizzlies are desperate to retain his services. He is the beating heart of their defensive Grit-and-Grind mindset and if he leaves, it will leave a hole in their roster that will be next to impossible to fill.

The problem is that whether Memphis re-signs Gasol or not, both outcomes come with all sorts of ramifications for the franchise.

Live Feed

Ex-Grizzlies guard opens up on desired landing spots for 2023-24 season
Ex-Grizzlies guard opens up on desired landing spots for 2023-24 season /

Beale Street Bears

  • Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant snubbed from recent rankingsBeale Street Bears
  • Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. avoids questions on recent foul troublesBeale Street Bears
  • Dillon Brooks throws subtle jab at Grizzlies during FIBA World CupBeale Street Bears
  • Memphis Grizzlies duo ranks in as No. 1 in entire leagueBeale Street Bears
  • 3 untouchable Memphis Grizzlies not named Ja MorantBeale Street Bears

    • If Wallace can somehow convince Gasol to remain in Memphis despite the max contacts several teams are ready to offer the center, it is going to tie up a tremendous amount of money.

    That’s money that the Grizzlies then won’t have to spend shoring up their bench or outside shooting, not to mention the fact that Conley is going to be an unrestricted free agent after next season and he will need to be taken care of as well.

    If, on the other hand, Gasol walks, then Wallace has to somehow replace him and convince Conley that the Grizzlies can still be competitive so that he remains with the team.

    It is not an exaggeration to say that this offseason will determine the future direction of the Grizzlies franchise for years to come. They have to weigh winning now versus planning for the future, how much money to tie up in a single player versus a balanced roster that can go deeper into the postseason.

    It looks like Chris Wallace will earn every penny the Grizzlies pay him over the next few months.

    Next: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time

    More from Hoops Habit

    Home/Memphis Grizzlies