Memphis Grizzlies: The time is now to pick a direction

Torn between trying to make the playoffs and a complete rebuild, the time is now for the Memphis Grizzlies to pick a direction

The next eight games may very well determine the Memphis Grizzlies’ season and long-term future. While they play the reigning champion Golden State Warriors twice during that stretch, they also play the Phoenix Suns and LA Clippers twice each, as well as the LA Lakers and Sacramento Kings once each.

At 9-21, with Mike Conley still out at least two more weeks, the Grizzlies are in prime position for a top lottery pick. But the Suns, Lakers, Clippers and Kings are right on their heels. With the possible exception of the Clippers, all four teams are far more accustomed to shamelessly tanking than the Grizzlies, and they all want great picks in the upcoming draft. None have a healthy star of Marc Gasol’s pedigree, so the Grizzlies realistically should win the majority of these six games.

But winning could literally knock them down four lottery spots when the season is all said and done.

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It’s a conundrum, especially after Gasol organized a press conference where he said:

"“As far as their goals right now, and what the team wants to accomplish, at least as much as I know, it’s that they’re trying to win. And that hasn’t changed…My job is not allowing anyone to throw away the season. Because at 32, 33 next month, I don’t have a season to throw away.”"

Gasol won’t be a part of rebuild, meaning if the team is mathematically eliminated before or shortly after the All-Star break, he will be very unhappy. But with JaMychal Green and Ben McLemore the only veterans under contract for the 2018-2019 season (besides Gasol, Conley and Chandler Parsons), it will be hard to convince quality free agents to join an aging, injury-prone team with no clear direction. It is hard to argue against the logic of tanking.

Gasol and Conley remain valuable trade assets, as does the resurgent Tyreke Evans, but trading any one of them would mean throwing in the towel on this season, and–though the playoffs may already be a pipe dream – the opportunity to replicate the magic of the 2017 Miami Heat who inspired the whole league with their unsuccessful but still remarkable second half effort.

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In contrast to Jake and Joey LaMotta, the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in a lose-lose situation. If they win these games, they lose lottery position. And if they rest Gasol at pivotal movements to lose games, they risk alienating their loyal fans. So there’s no way they can possibly win!

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