Using cap space to gain assets
While many teams in today’s NBA attempt to hoard cap-space in hopes of getting a star player, Klieman’s Grizzlies, like Hinkie’s 76ers, decided to take a different approach. Acquiring high salary players as a way to gain draft picks or young players.
This strategy allows other teams to open up the room to sign high-end players and then the Grizzles can get more draft picks along with a young player who could have some value.
At the trade deadline, the Grizzlies were able to get Justise Winslow who looks to be a long term piece going forward from taking on ugly contracts like Gorgui Dieng‘s in a three-team deal.
Sam Hinkie made moves like this all the time in his time with Philly by acting as a third team in trades to make deals work and gain any assets he can.