Memphis Grizzlies: How the Grizz perfectly embody Memphis

How the Memphis Grizzlies perfectly embody the city and its fans

The Memphis Grizzlies may not have an abundance of playoff success or title runs to reminisce about over the last decade or so, but one thing they can take pride in is its consistency. Being a so-called “small-market” team is tough whether we want to admit it or not because you can’t ignore the fact that big-name free agents simply don’t go to places like Memphis.

Teams in this situation have to get creative, and often have some of the best front offices in the league as far as decision-making is concerned. See live examples in places like Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Atlanta, and even Indiana.

These are locations that don’t always get the most shine or popularity when it comes to desirables and vacation homes, but the teams that they host are some of the more consistent ones in the NBA.

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The Grizzlies specifically, best known for their grit and grind motto, have embodied this outlook to perfection through their most recent iteration of themselves. The roster with Tony Allen, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and let’s not leave out Courtney Lee, was one of the toughest groups to play against night in and night out. They were a lock to be one of the best defending teams in the league, and likely 45-50 wins every season.

This is all a great story and something that should be much appreciated by a homegrown fan base such as this one. Teams like Memphis don’t have expat followers like the Lakers and others do, Grizz fans are usually the core of the city and local to the area. The consistency is part of the appeal especially when you’re the only game in town for the four surrounding states, and really a somewhat void of NBA teams in the southern Midwest region.

All these highlights considered though, you can’t help but notice that the real goal is still missing. To contend on the highest stage and make it past the second round of the playoffs would be a start, but ultimately Memphis fans would like to see a chip one day.

There comes a point in every team’s tenure where you have to reevaluate. Accepted methods only work for so long, just as in life. We have to be willing to be introspective and evolve relative to the changing circumstances that come with the passing of time, and adjusting your NBA roster isn’t any different than this.

So, Memphis did this, or they started to, I mean kind of…they let Zach Randolph go in 2017, and proceeded to keep Conley and Gasol along with other quality players. Conley, of course, would miss the majority of that season, as well as Gasol having his own injuries. They ultimately won 22 games.

Continuing into the 2018 season, everyone appeared healthy but neither of the two was traded until near the deadline when they dealt Gasol to the Raptors, still puzzlingly keeping Conley on the roster. Nevertheless, they may have had their reasons, and ultimately made a quality trade to get him on an improving team during his prime.

These moves get us to the current situation, rebuilding mode. The Conley trade, as well as some others, netted some potential assets in return. Grayson Allen, Josh Jackson, De’Anthony Melton, Jae Crowder, and Andre Iguodala, if that counts. Most of these guys have upside in the fact that they’re young, and if not that they’re solid veteran players who can both give quality minutes and guide the youth movement.

The team also re-signed Jonas Valanciunas, who I think showed his potential a lot when he was allowed to open it up in their offense last year. These acquisitions along with drafting Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke give them a very nice young core to build around. The meat of it is obviously Ja, Jaren, Clarke, and maybe Valanciunas, but other guys like Josh Jackson and Melton were also first-round picks with a lot of potential we can’t overlook. Not to forget the signing of Tyus Jones of course, whom I think has proven to be a competent backup at this point and is obviously no threat to Ja Morant’s status in Memphis.

This year will be very up and down for both the team and its fans. I don’t see them as the type of team who will outright tank and just try to lose. Also taking into consideration the fact that they still retained some veteran pieces, I could easily see them making an effort to win games especially early on.

Ultimately, they’ll likely end up with anywhere from 20-35 wins, which is a wide range but I would assume it will be closer to the 25 number.

Regardless of the outcome from this season, the Grizzlies are trying to build a new generation the best and only way that they can. Without the appeal to pull high caliber players in the open market, your best asset is the trade market and, of course, the draft. Being able to execute concisely on draft night is crucial for a team like this, and it remains to be seen how recent selections will pan out.

The future is nowhere near dim in Memphis though and I’d cautiously suggest it to be bright, but hey that depends on your outlook.