The Grizzlies fell to the Golden State Warriors in six games last night. What now?
by: Riley Staton (@threewindrileys on Instagram)
photo by: Justin Ford/Getty Images
It was a fate we all dreaded yet all saw coming. The young and upstart team going up against the refueled former juggernaut; Golden State took the series in six and the Grizzlies were bounced in the second round. It was a good season. A great one, in fact. Fifty-six wins, led by first-time All Star, Most Improved player, and future star for years to come Ja Morant, backed by a nucleus of incredible young talent with some veteran leadership sprinkled in. There's a lot to be learned from this season, so let's... learn it.
The Free Agency Situation
The Grizzlies have four upcoming free agents this off-season. They are as follows:
UFAs:
- Tyus Jones
- Kyle Anderson
- Jarrett Culver
RFAs:
- Yves Pons
The two important ones here are Tyus and Kyle. Yves Pons is a lock to be re-signed; he was a rookie who barely saw the floor at the NBA level this year, and could develop into something nice with some more seasoning. And Jarrett Culver kinda sucks (sorry :/). Kyle has less suitors than Tyus, and should be cheaper. The question is IF we want to re-sign him. Dillon Brooks is the current starting small forward for the Grizz, and Ziaire Williams has proven himself to have a cavalcade of upside, especially in the second round against the Warriors with his three-point shot being an X-factor in the games that Memphis won. Shifting up a position, Jaren Jackson Jr. is the clear starting power forward, and Brandon Clarke seems to have cemented his spot in the rotation being one of the best bench wings in the league. This leaves Anderson as the odd man out; he does provide veteran leadership and discipline to the squad, and his value as a playmaker is helpful, but clogging up the rotation with his minutes and slowing the pace down off the bench might not be the best thing for this team. There's a solid fifty-fifty chance he gets re-signed or not, but both options do come with their benefits and hindrances.
Tyus Jones has elevated himself to be even more valuable to this team. Stepping up when Ja Morant went down with a knee injury early on into the season, Jones has proven himself to be one of the most underrated pieces on this entire team. Averaging an efficient eight points and four assists, his value as a team leader at the point guard position at the heart of the Grizzlies' secondary unit has proven invaluable to the team. This comes with a caveat. He has become one of the most sought-after point guards in this free agency class. The Knicks, Pistons, and Cavaliers are all interested in signing him. The good news? He seems to be option #2 for these teams with Jalen Brunson of the Dallas Mavericks, also being available, filling the same role that Tyus does at a higher rate. However, this demand probably also means an increase in salary. The Grizzlies will likely attempt to match any offer he may get in the off-season, but the idea itself will still linger up until that very moment.
photo by: Getty Images
The Curious Case of Dillon Brooks
Let's start a dialogue about Dillon Brooks; Brooks is a very interesting player. Dillon Brooks shoots a lot of mid-range shots, and hits them at a fairly efficient rate. He's also a decent defender when he's not trying to slug someone in the head. However, Dillon Brooks is an extremely inefficient three-point shooter. Injuries notwithstanding, Brooks shot under 31% from downtown this year. How well does that fit with the Grizzlies' style of play? Does a mid-range catch-and-shoot player with a wildly inconsistent three-ball and good but not great defense really benefit us all that much? There's certainly options on the market; Miles Bridges could be a pricier option if the front office were willing to free up cap, and veterans like Nic Batum, Jeremy Lamb, and Taurean Prince would be cheaper options were the Grizzlies interested in moving on. The trade market is also always open, assuming a trade partner could be found. Here's the thing, though; when Brooks is on, Brooks is ON. Despite the tough loss in game six, Brooks put up thirty, and while his field goal percentage was ugly, his three-ball was flirting with 50%. The thing with Brooks is timing. Do the Grizzlies want to try to run it back with Brooks, or do they want to go younger or cheaper? Brooks fits into the Grizzlies locker room culture as well, so there is also that. Time will tell if Brooks truly is, well, that guy, and it's approaching time to make that decision.
photo by: Petre Thomas/USA Today Sports
Is it Time to Contend?
Fifty-six wins is absolutely nothing to sneeze at. That record was enough to get Memphis the second seed in a relatively strong Western Conference. However, it's up in the air if that record is sustainable in this team's current state. The big question here is if the Grizzlies want to continue re-tooling or they want to lock in their current roster and let the players that are already here fully develop. The Grizzlies have their first-rounder in the 2022 draft due to a protection, and if the Lakers' pick falls between 11-14, they also have it. Expect a follow-up on the Grizzlies' top prospects in the future, but needless to say there are interesting options there, as well. If they were to trade these picks, Memphis could move up to get a more NBA-ready prospect or improve on a positional need. Either way, these picks could have legitimate value. Barring a big change, though, expect the Grizzlies to capitalize on this window they've opened up. I think a lot of Grizzlies fans are realizing that now is the time to go all in, and something is telling me that management thinks so too.
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