The Grizzlies‘ season came to an end on Wednesday night in Utah, as a 126-110 Jazz victory completed the first-round series in five games. However, the young squad was encouraged by having made the playoffs this season and is looking forward to continuing to make strides this summer, as Evan Barnes of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes.
“The taste of the playoffs is on everybody’s mind and this offseason’s got to be a special offseason for every single one of my teammates,” Dillon Brooks said after Wednesday’s loss.
While much of the roster is under contract for 2021/22, Barnes suggests it won’t necessarily be a quiet few months in Memphis, since the team will want to add more shooting and more reliable bench scoring. Still, there’s a solid foundation in place to build upon, led by rising star Ja Morant.
“Now, we just need to grow,” said center Jonas Valanciunas, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe. “We have the right people — good people. It’s not going to happen overnight. But we are headed in the right direction.”
Here’s more on the Grizzlies:
- Jaren Jackson Jr. appears to be the Grizzlies’ “biggest swing player,” Lowe writes within his deep dive into the situation in Memphis. If Jackson, who is extension-eligible this offseason, becomes an All-Star caliber player, it would increase the team’s ceiling significantly. But if he ends up being just a quality rotation piece, the path to contention would be much more difficult.
- Josh Robbins of The Athletic and Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link) each preview the Grizzlies’ offseason, with Robbins reiterating the importance of adding outside shooting, while Marks takes a look at Jackson’s case for an extension and the looming decision on Justise Winslow‘s team option.
- If the Grizzlies are going to acquire an impact player, it will almost certainly have to happen via trade, John Hollinger of The Athletic writes. The former Grizzlies executive points out that the team has a surplus of options at shooting guard and power forward and says the front office shouldn’t be afraid of giving up young players and draft picks if a good opportunity arises.
Grizz should be calling Boston on Marcus Smart.
They have de’Anthony Melton already…and Justise Winslow, although I would assume they dont pick up his option, unless they move other pieces…
They have to figure out what to do at the 4 with arguably 4 or 5 similar options there, and they need a more consistent wing piece
West is tough tho….
Let’s assume GSW makes some kind of move this summer that at least puts them as a shoe-in for the playoffs. Now Memphis has to knock out one of LAL, POR, DAL, UTA, DEN, LAC, PHX.
And that’s not even mentioning the possibility New Orleans actually has a halfway decent offseason and comes back with a non-garbage roster around Zion.
It’s possible Portland or LAC blow things up this offseason depending on the next few days go. But I think it’s equally possibly Memphis is in the lottery next season.
Love Morant. Not sure Jackson has shown that he’s 100% worth the hype yet. Winslow doing nothing is a real bummer for them.