Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a portrait on the team's media day event at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S., September 27, 2021. /CFP
The Memphis Grizzlies knocked out the Golden State Warriors in the NBA play-in tournament to reach the playoffs last season. Though they later lost to the Utah Jazz 4-1 in the first round, the Grizzlies caused a lot of trouble for the Western Conference leader.
The team showed the potential to grow even better if they operate it "correctly" during the offseason.
Nonetheless, the Grizzlies chose to send away Jonas Valanciunas, one of just few big men in the league with complete offensive skills, and Grayson Allen, who grew to become a reliable shooter over the summer.
The team got, in return, Steven Adams, Kris Dunn, Jarrett Culver and multiple draft picks (upgrades).
Steven Adams (C) of the Memphis Grizzlies drives toward the rim in the NBA pre-season game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., October 7, 2021. /CFP
Adams may fill in Valanciunas' position on defense – and shares the same problem of being vulnerable facing perimeter players in switch – but he is no match for the Lithuanian giant. Dunn has been hurting the spacing of every team he has played for since he joined the NBA in 2016. Culver has not proven why he deserved to be drafted with the sixth-overall pick after playing two seasons in the NBA.
It's safe to say that the Grizzlies are not growing better. If anything they're retrogressing. But the team were compensated in draft picks. They had two pick promotions for 2021, one from No. 17 to No. 10, the other No. 51 to No. 30, a 2022 first-rounder and a second-rounder swap.
Simply speaking, the team gave up some of the short-term yield to invest in their future.
One of the reasons they did that was to avoid getting drawn into the arms race in the Western Conference.
Karrett Culver of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a portrait on the team's media day event at FedExForum, September 27, 2021. /CFP
Too many teams – the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Denver Nuggets, the Utah Jazz, the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors – have thrown themselves into a win-or-nothing situation. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies cannot match the Portland Trail Blazers, the Dallas Mavericks or even the New Orleans Pelicans when it comes to the performance of core players.
It might also sound cruel, but Memphis is not LA or San Francisco, and does not strike star players as more attractive than Phoenix, Dallas or Denver. Even if the Grizzlies bet everything they have, which is not much, to trade for someone better than Valanciunas, there is no promise that they can do better than being eliminated in the first round.
That's why the team decided to take one step back and tried to collect more talents for their pool, which is essential for a small-market team to succeed.
A team only goes all-in after confirming their core for the future, but the Grizzlies are not like that. They know Ja Morant is cornerstone material, but it takes a star duo to stand out in today's NBA.
Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzles looks on in the NBA pre-season game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center, October 7, 2021. /CFP
Jaren Jackson Jr. seemed like the other half of that couple in the 2019-20 season when he averaged 17.4 points, 1.6 blocks and 2.5 triples at 39.4 percent. However, he failed to carry that performance to the 2020-21 season. Making only 11 appearances because of injury puts a big question mark over his potential future contribution to the team.
Dillon Brooks showed incredible energy on the court last season, especially in the playoffs, dropping 25.8 points per game. But teams rarely make a second-round selection (No. 45) a cornerstone player unless his name is Nikola Jokic or Manu Ginobili.
The good news for the Grizzlies is that Morant at 22 is still young and has just entered the third year of his rookie contract. The team can still afford to wait. They have to make the correct decision because once there is too much on their plate, the Grizzlies can lose everything before spending years to start over.