NBA Free Agency: Grading all 30 teams on trades and signings

NBA Free Agency Grades: Memphis Grizzlies

Signings: Ja Morant (5 year, $231 million extension); John Konchar (3 year, $19 million extension); (Tyus Jones (2 years, $30 million)

Trades: None

The Memphis Grizzlies had the opportunity this summer to make a big splash, to sign or trade for another star to put alongside Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. They didn’t do that, instead agreeing to a couple of extensions and bringing back essential backup point guard Tyus Jones on a two-year deal.

First, the moves themselves. Getting Morant to sign a five-year maximum rookie extension without a player option is a great move for the Grizzlies, and will ensure their exciting young phenom is around for a long time as the face of the franchise. On a much smaller level John Konchar agreed to an extension to stick around as a reserve guard. Jones for $15 million a season seems very fair, and the Grizzlies likely had to outbid a number of teams like the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers prepared to offer the full MLE.

Now the question becomes, should the Grizzlies have made better use of their cap flexibility and made a bigger splash? The answer becomes another question: who should they have gone after? All of the major free agents sans Jalen Brunson re-signed with their former teams. DeAndre Ayton didn’t make sense for this team and was matched on a max contract by the Phoenix Suns. Miles Bridges took himself off the market. There wasn’t a player out there obviously available. The Grizzlies got to this point by being patient and developing their own talent, and they’re going to follow that path some more.

Grade: B-