Memphis Grizzlies: 5 Things To Watch For With Mike Conley Out

5. Possible Moves For Replacements

As of right now, the Grizzlies’ starting backcourt looks like it will include first-year guards Wade Baldwin IV and Andrew Harrison in the wake of Conley’s injury. The only other guards on the roster are Troy Daniels and wing reserve Vince Carter.

In terms of possible replacements, the Grizz will qualify for the NBA’s hardship exception — which would allow them to add a 16th player — after Conley misses his third game. That would be after Memphis’ Dec. 3 contest against the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Unfortunately, that exception only applies as long as Chandler Parsons and James Ennis are sidelined as well. The moment one of those two players return, which is obviously key for a Grizzlies squad missing its starting and backup small forward, Memphis’ roster will have to be chopped down to 15 again.

Outside of a trade, the Grizzlies will need to waive someone in order to add a veteran guard to temporarily aid the backcourt. The most likely waive candidate would be wing Troy Williams, who is not a regular part of Fizdale’s rotation.

According to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Grizzlies plan on working out Kendall Marshall, Toney Douglas and Will Bynum.

Given David Fizdale’s prior relationship with Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers (not to mention Chalmers’ stint with the Grizz last year), his name immediately popped up on the list of potential replacement options. But with Chalmers still recovering from last year’s Achilles injury, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reports that he won’t be among the guards working out for Memphis:

Another former Heat guard, Norris Cole, was mentioned as a potential workout option for the Grizz, according to Basketball Insiders’ Michael Scotto.

If the Grizzlies are looking for a temporary stop-gap option until Parsons and/or Ennis return, they’d be better off signing someone like Bynum, Marshall, Douglas or former Grizzlies guard Xavier Munford, since they could easily be waived later on.

Options like Jarrett Jack or Norris Cole are good enough to require a larger commitment, which may not be in Memphis’ best interests. As you can see, the replacement options aren’t exactly encouraging for the Grizzlies at this point in time.