Grizzlies Have Offseason Options In Quest To Get Over Hump

“Adding a veteran wing to the mix would be huge for Memphis,” Smith wrote. “The options aren’t going to knock your socks off, but players like Gary Trent Jr., Bruce Brown, Caris LeVert, Taurean Prince, Tim Hardaway Jr., Amir Coffey or Jae’Sean Tate would all be solid pickups for Memphis. Some of those guys wouldn’t even cost the team the entire MLE or Room Exception. That would leave some left over to give Cam Spencer a longer contract now, or to use later in the season, should the need arise.”

Not long ago, the Grizzlies were considered an up-and-coming team that was destined for years of success in the West. Now? Well, it’s not a lost cause, but there’s no reason to believe that they are up there with the likes of Oklahoma City, Minnesota and some others. Not yet, anyway.

But again, there are ways to improve, both organically and by finding some new blood. Or perhaps a little bit of both.

“And, of course, Memphis could make a big trade,” Smith wrote. “The Grizzlies have been more open to cashing in and chasing veteran upgrades in the past year or so than in the past. They were linked to Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant and others at times in the last year. Butler is off the table now, but Durant is still available. Making a move like that would cost Memphis one of Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane or Ja Morant, simply because the salary-matching gets too difficult otherwise.”

So, yeah. A major trade seems unlikely, as Smith indicated. But the Grizzlies have hope. This offseason will tell us a lot about whether it’s soon to be realized.