2018 Offseason In Review: Memphis Grizzlies

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2018 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2018/19 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Signings:

• Standard contracts:
  • Kyle Anderson: Four years, $37.16MM. Signed using mid-level exception. Spurs’ declined to match offer sheet.
  • Omri Casspi: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Shelvin Mack: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
• Two-way contracts:
  • Yuta Watanabe
• Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
  • Markel Crawford: One year, minimum salary.
  • Brandon Goodwin: One year, minimum salary.
  • Ismaila Kane: One year, minimum salary.
  • Doral Moore: One year, minimum salary.

Trades:

• Acquired Garrett Temple from the Kings in exchange for Ben McLemore, Deyonta Davis, the Grizzlies’ 2021 second-round pick, and cash ($1,544,951).
• Acquired Dakari Johnson and the draft rights to Tyler Harvey from the Magic in exchange for Jarell Martin and cash ($1,037,980).
  • Note: Johnson later waived.

Draft picks:

• 1-4: Jaren Jackson Jr. — Signed to rookie contract.
• 2-32: Jevon Carter — Signed to two-year, $2.26MM contract. Fully guaranteed. Signed using minimum salary exception.

Departing players:

• Mario Chalmers
• Deyonta Davis
• Tyreke Evans
• Myke Henry (two-way; waived)
• Omari Johnson (waived)
• Jarell Martin
• Ben McLemore
• Kobi Simmons (two-way; waived)

Other offseason news:

• Retained interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, naming him permanent head coach.
• Hired Jerry Stackhouse as assistant coach; finalized coaching staff.
• Hired Brad Jones as head coach of G League affiliate Memphis Hustle.
• Named Glen Grunwald a consultant.

Salary cap situation:

• Remained over the cap.
• Carrying approximately $120.8MM in guaranteed salaries.
• Hard-capped at $129.82MM.
• No cap exceptions left besides minimum salary exception.

Check out the Memphis Grizzlies’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

Following a colossally disappointing 22-win season, the Grizzlies found themselves in a very difficult spot. With three fat contracts (Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons) eating up a good chunk of their cap space, they couldn’t simply go into full rebuild mode. So rather than waving the white flag, the Grizzlies’ front office thought the best approach would be to embrace their old roots. Instead of seeking out more shooters and embracing a high-powered attack, Memphis opted to surround Gasol and Conley with defensive-minded players possessing length and athleticism.

Selecting Jaren Jackson Jr. with their high lottery pick tipped the Grizzlies’ hand on what type of personnel moves they’d make this summer. Jackson is an all-around talent but his greatest strength is his shot-blocking. Jackson Jr. swatted over 100 shots in his lone college season at Michigan State despite averaging just 21.8 MPG. Second-round pick Jevon Carter carved out a reputation for toughness and gritty play at West Virginia.

Their successful pursuit of restricted free agent swingman Kyle Anderson showed creativity on a limited budget. The Grizzlies knew it would be tough for San Antonio to match the offer sheet on a four-year player who’s never averaged more than 7.9 PPG. But Memphis isn’t looking for Anderson to put up big offensive numbers. Defensive analytics show Anderson to be one of the league’s underrated defenders. His defensive box rating last season posted by Basketball Reference was an excellent 4.3.

The front office also chose continuity by retaining coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Endorsements from Conley and Gasol certainly helped his cause.

Key offseason losses:

The Grizzlies did not deal impending free agent Tyreke Evans at the trade deadline last season, as they held out hope of re-signing him over the summer. That strategy did not work out, although it’s questionable just how much they wanted him back. Evans got more than Memphis could offer with its mid-level exception, landing a one-year, $12MM contract with the Pacers. Memphis certainly took a hit offensively, as Evans averaged 19.4 PPG and 5.2 APG in 52 games last season.

Power forward Jarell Martin started 36 games last season but never really made a major impact with the organization. He became expendable once they drafted Jackson. Mario Chalmers also saw quite a bit of playing time last season, appearing in 66 games in all, but that was mainly due to Conley’s heel injury. Shooting guard Ben McLemore got a long look and even started by 17 games but just like he did in Sacramento, McLemore quickly wore out his welcome. He shot only 34.6% from long range.

Center Deyonta Davis had a forgettable two-season run with the organization after being a high second-round pick in 2016. A poor summer-league showing convinced the Grizzlies to move him in a trade with the Kings, who subsequently waived him.

Key offseason additions:

The reward to Memphis’ awful season was the No. 4 overall pick and the Grizzlies are hoping they hit a home run with Jackson Jr. They need Jackson to emerge a franchise-type player and having Gasol to mentor him will facilitate that process. A prolific shot-blocker, Jackson will make his defensive presence felt and he showed with the Spartans he can stretch the floor with his 3-point shooting. If he can grow the other aspects of his game, he’ll be an All-Star down the road.

Anderson never emerged as anything more than role player with the Spurs, though he started 67 games last season in the aftermath of Kawhi Leonard‘s quad injury. The Grizzlies used up their mid-level exception on him with the expectation he’ll be one of the league’s top defenders while also receiving expanding offensive opportunities and playing time.

Veterans Shelvin Mack and Omri Casspi were added in free agency to fortify the bench. Mack could prove especially useful, as he projects as Conley’s backup. Given Conley’s injury history, Mack could wind up playing an even bigger role. Casspi shot 45.5% from long range for the Warriors last season. It will be hard to duplicate that with Memphis — he won’t have All-Stars like Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry to siphon away defenders — but he’ll provide some much-needed shooting off the bench.

Veteran guard Garrett Temple, acquired in a trade with Sacramento, gives Bickerstaff another solid defensive option who can guard multiple positions.

Outlook for 2018/19:

Any hope of a respectable season rests on Conley’s health. He needs to stay on the court and produce at past levels to allow the Grizzlies to hold their own in the loaded West. Conley only appeared in 12 games last season but there’s cautious optimism that he’s finally over his nagging heel issues.

Gasol, 33, has adapted his game and can now force defenses to guard him outside the arc. Gasol had a falling out with former coach David Fizdale and took some media heat for his alleged role in Fizdale’s dismissal but he should feel refreshed after a miserable, controversy-laded season.

Parsons’ contract remains an albatross but if Anderson and Jackson can make an immediate impact, the Grizzlies will be a tough team to play. They’ll grind out enough victories to make this bounce-back season but they simply don’t have enough pieces to make the playoffs.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.