Memphis Grizzlies: Complete 2018 offseason grades
By Tim Maclean
Signing Omri Casspi
The Grizzlies entered free agency with limited spending power that kept them out of the running for most of the big names on the market. Even with that being the case, it was strange to see them make Omri Casspi a priority as early as July 2. Despite signing him for one year at the veteran minimum, Casspi is the type of player they could have waited on to lock up much later in the process.
Regardless, Memphis got him, and it’s really not a bad move. Casspi is a proven veteran who can help space the floor off the bench for a team that ranked 25th in the league in 3-point percentage (35.2 percent) and 24th in 3-point attempts (26.2 per game) last year.
He also offers some lineup versatility for head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. At 6’9″ and 225 pounds, Casspi has mostly played the 3 since entering the league, but as he’s aged he’s started to make the shift toward playing the 4. In 53 games with Golden State last season, he played almost exclusively in that spot, with 97 percent of his minutes coming there.
Unfortunately, getting these things out of Casspi isn’t anywhere near a guarantee. His 53 games played before the Warriors waived him last season were his most since 2015-16 when he appeared in 69 games for Sacramento. Casspi has struggled with injuries throughout his career and missed time due to six different ailments just this past season.
If the Grizzlies don’t get anything out of him this year, they can just wash their hands clean of Casspi next summer, so there is no real risk here.
Grade: C