The Memphis Grizzlies made their seventh consecutive playoff appearance last year, and sought to take a few low-risk, high-reward gambles this offseason. Acquiring several new faces over the summer. Did they make the right moves? Here are the team’s official offseason grades for 2017.
The Memphis Grizzlies entered the 2017 offseason in one of the worst scenarios ever: possessing little to any money, to make an acquisition.
Last summer, the Grizzlies went on a massive shopping spree in free agency, signing Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons to max contracts, which went on to draw harsh criticism in the months to come.
Memphis came into the offseason with $94 million guaranteed to players on its roster, with an estimated $76.8 million invested in Conley, Parsons, and Marc Gasol — whose name has been involved in constant trade rumors over the last several months.
Faces of the franchise such as Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, alongside of several role players, all became unrestricted free agents this past summer, putting the Grizzlies officially in no man’s land.
As a team that has made it to seven straight postseasons, Memphis now finds itself in the midst of a potential rebuild. Most people knew the Grizzlies’ time with its legendary core in Conley, Gasol, Allen and Randolph would come to an end one day, but sometimes change is good a thing.
Here’s a look at the Memphis Grizzlies complete 2017 offseason grades.
Drafting Ivan Rabb
The Memphis Grizzlies entered the 2017 NBA Draft without a single draft pick, and still managed to come out victorious in epic fashion.
General manager Chris Wallace traded into the second round of the draft, by sending the Brooklyn Nets‘ 2019 second round pick to the Orlando Magic, in exchange for their 35th pick. The team then selected Ivan Rabb, a 6’10” power forward out of California who never found a way to live up to the hype surrounding him at Berkeley.
Rabb, a McDonald’s All-American who was once considered to be a surefire lottery pick, opted to return to school for his sophomore year after putting together a solid freshman campaign, posting 14 points and 10.5 rebounds per game for the Golden Bears in 31 games.
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However, the 20-year-old who showed nothing but promise throughout his freshman season did not take the leap that scouts expected when he went back to Cal, causing more harm to his draft stock than helping it.
Despite earning first team All-Pac-12 honors last season, Rabb did not dominate teams in college by any means. However, there are still plenty of things to like about him.
Rabb is an exceptional rebounder who does a terrific job of boxing out his man inside when shots are hoisted up. He is also a mobile big man who can move around and run the floor on offense.
He will not have an impact on the offensive end just yet, as he is still raw and must add strength. Although Rabb could possibly make an impact for the Grizzlies defensively.
Rabb has a 7’2” wingspan, and shown the ability to switch onto guards and defend opposing players down low on the post, making him a fitting selection in the second round, as Rabb fills a team need.
Grade: B-
Drafting Dillon Brooks
Despite landing Ivan Rabb in the second round, the Grizzlies decided that they were not done wheeling and dealing just yet.
Wallace made another trade on draft night to acquire another pick, sending a future second round pick to the Houston Rockets in exchange for their 45th overall selection. The Grizz used the pick on Dillon Brooks, a player who can do just about anything on the floor.
The former Oregon forward showcased his ability to pass, shoot, score, and defend at a high level for the Grizzlies in July, leading Memphis to the NBA Summer League semifinals in Las Vegas.
Brooks is a high-intensity, high-energy player who will seek to compete every single night for the Grizzlies, leaving it all out on the floor every chance he gets.
Throughout his time in Eugene, Brooks made strides every season, as he averaged 16.1 points per game and shot a career-high 40.1 percent from 3-point range last season, en route to earning Pac-12 Player of the Year honors and leading the Ducks to their first Final Four since 1939.
He also showcased his ability to be an efficient player on the offensive end this summer.
The 21-year-old is at his best when he seeks to attack the rim and get inside the driving lanes, and has shown the ability to play on the post at the collegiate level, as Brooks is the scoring wing that the Grizzlies desperately need to compete in the Western Conference.
He just might be the steal of the draft.
Grade: A-
Re-signing Wayne Selden
The Grizzlies took a different route at the onset of free agency this year, as they sought to go after unheralded talent to start the summer on minimum contracts. On July 1, Memphis agreed to re-sign Wayne Selden to a two-year deal.
The 22-year-old spent the majority of last season playing for the Iowa Energy, the Grizzlies’ former G League affiliate, where he averaged 18.5 points and shot 34.9 percent from 3-point range in 35 games.
An undrafted rookie, Selden was able to garner a 10-day contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, and was acquired by Memphis upon the expiration of his deal, as the Grizzlies signed him for the remainder of the 2016-17 season.
Selden appeared in 11 games for the Grizzlies last season, averaging five points per game, and was quickly inserted into the rotation. The former Kansas star earned critical minutes in Memphis’ first round series against the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs last year and showed positive signs of growth in the offseason.
Selden was named to the All-Summer League Second Team, averaging 22.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game en route to guiding the Grizzlies to a 5-1 record out in Las Vegas.
The signing of Selden indicates that Memphis is looking to go in a different direction at the wing position, as they appear to be taking a flyer on the swingman to see what he can do next season under head coach David Fizdale.
No one knows whether or not Selden has what it takes to earn major minutes, though he appears to have what it takes to become a solid role player. However, Selden must showcase his potential consistently in his first full season with the Grizzlies in order for us to truly find out.
Grade: C
Signing Kobi Simmons
Once upon a time, Kobi Simmons was regarded as one of the top basketball players in America.
The five-star point guard out of high school, had an underwhelming freshman campaign at the University of Arizona — averaging 8.7 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 rebounds in 37 games for the Wildcats last season.
And yet, he still decided turn pro after his lone season in Tucson, eespite drawing harsh assessments from many within college basketball. Simmons did not receive the opportunity of hearing his named called in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Memphis Grizzlies
However, the Grizzlies signed him to a two-way player contract. A new tool under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, that will give Simmons the opportunity to occupy either the 16th or 17th spot on Memphis’ roster through a maximum of 45 days.
While Simmons will more than likely spend the majority of his time with the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ new G League affiliate, he is a dynamic guard who has the ability to breeze by defenders with a quick first step and dish jaw-dropping passes.
As a result, he can get just about anything around the basket. Simmons possesses a 38.5-inch vertical, with a floater to finish around taller opponents. He is also a solid defender.
Although there are times where he also plays out of control, and seeks to take questionable shots on the floor. The 20-year-old shot a poor 25.6 percent from the field at NBA Summer League, and will have to put on major muscle in order to succeed at the next level.
Making him a player to watch out for in the near future, as Simmons will likely float around between the Hustle and Grizzlies throughout the 2017-18 regular season, possibly paying off as a bargain down the road.
Grade: B
Signing Ben McLemore
This past offseason, Memphis sought to acquire their shooting guard for the future, signing Ben McLemore to a two-year, $10.7 million deal.
McLemore, who spent his first four seasons in Sacramento, has failed to live to the build up surrounding him out of Kansas. The seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, has averaged only 9.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in his career with the Kings, and has not made any discernible progress during his time in the league.
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However, McLemore still has the potential to be a solid player, as a change of scenery could be just what he needs to carve out his niche in the NBA.
Despite averaging a career-low 19.3 minutes per night last season, McLemore shot a career-best 38.2 percent from 3-point range, and is a phenomenal athlete who will likely receive major minutes for the Grizzlies next season.
While he has failed to show much outside of his jump shot and incredible hops, McLemore never received the guidance that he needed to fully develop in Sacramento. The 24-year-old played for four different coaches in four years, saw repeated fluctuations within his role, and was a byproduct of arguably the worst front office in the league.
On top of that, McLemore has never even played in a legitimate defensive scheme, as the former lottery pick could make strides within the right system.
McLemore will not have a slew of expectations placed upon him in Memphis, although it does appear to be the place in which he could revitalize his career, and possibly find a role in the league. The signing is a low-risk, high-reward move.
Grade: B-
Signing Tyreke Evans
Eight years ago, Tyreke Evans made his grand entrance onto the basketball scene playing at the FedEx Forum. Starring as a 19-year-old point guard at the University of Memphis under head coach John Calipari, where he earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors and led the Tigers to the Sweet 16 in 2009.
Now, Evans finds himself setting up shop in the place were his career started on the game’s highest level. The 27-year-old signed a one-year, $3.3 million dollar deal to join the Grizzlies in July, after being dealt to the Sacramento Kings in February as part of the blockbuster DeMarcus Cousins trade.
Evans, who started last season with the Pelicans, averaged 18.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per 36 minutes in 14 games for the Kings. The 6’6” swingman played primarily off the bench, as he was limited to only 40 games last year due to knee surgery and lingering knee problems.
Memphis acquired a valuable offensive asset at a low price in Evans. He can score the basketball, facilitate the offense, and play multiple positions on the floor, making him a valuable component within Fizdale’s offense.
If Evans can stay healthy, he could prove to be a possible Sixth Man candidate.
Grade: B
Signing Mario Chalmers
In mid-July, the Grizzlies decided to bring a recognizable face back aboard, signing veteran point guard Mario Chalmers to a one-year, partially guaranteed deal.
Chalmers, who spent the last season on the sidelines recovering from a torn right Achilles he suffered with the team, came to Memphis via trade from the Miami Heat on Nov. 10, 2015 — averaging 10.8 points per game and 3.8 assists in 55 games for the Grizzlies two seasons ago.
However, the 31-year-old saw his first stint with the franchise come to an unfortunate end, as the Grizzlies waived him shortly following his injury.
Now, the two-time NBA champion finds himself reunited with head coach David Fizdale, who Chalmers played under as an assistant coach for the Heat.
The acquisition of Chalmers makes ideal sense for Memphis. He is a player that the organization knows quite well, and the Grizzlies are in dire need of a quality backup point guard behind Mike Conley.
If Chalmers can return to form he played at prior to the injury, then he would help to fill a major role for Memphis, and secure a roster spot throughout the 2017-18 regular season. Overall, it is a low-risk move for the Grizzlies. The only question is if Chalmers can fully bounce back.
Grade: C
Overall
The Memphis Grizzlies found themselves at a crossroads this offseason, in large part because there was very little they could do. Well over the salary cap, the Grizzlies could only seek to offer free agents the mid-level or bi-annual exception and ended up finding a new identity in the process.
Memphis let Zach Randolph — who played a significant part in the Grizzlies’ success over the last several years, depart to join the Kings on a two-year, $24 million deal. Vince Carter also left. The organization also appears to have parted ways with Tony Allen, who still remains on the market as an unrestricted free agent.
Yet, the Grizzlies added much needed help on the perimeter with the additions of Tyreke Evans and Ben McLemore, who will help them spread the floor and force teams think about not longer going under pick-and-roll sets. And it did not cost much.
The acquisition of Selden and Chalmers are justifiable moves, although neither player is an ultimate game-changer. Meanwhile, rookies such as Ivan Rabb, Dillon Brooks and Kobi Simmons might not be ready to serve as instant contributors until a couple of years from now.
Overall, the Grizzlies sought to take gamble on players who could potentially outperform their contracts, and become a modern-day basketball team without going into complete tank mode this offseason.
Memphis will seek to compete in the Western Conference, although the days of Grit–N-Grind basketball appear to be over at this point. Take that for data.
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Final Grade: C