NBA: Moves that West playoff teams need to make to take a step forward

Memphis Grizzlies: Bolster the bench with veterans

After squeaking into the postseason, the Memphis Grizzlies shocked the first seeded Jazz in Game 1, but inexperience showed as they lost the next four games. Ja Morant looked like the franchise centerpiece, averaging 30 points and eight assists on 49 percent field goal shooting. Outside of him and the likes of Dillon Brooks and Jonas Valanciunas (recently traded), the rest of the Grizzlies didn’t perform.

With an average age of 24.3, the Grizzlies were the youngest team since the 2010-11 Oklahoma City Thunder to make the playoffs, according to USA Today. Additionally, a stifling sixth-ranked defense gives Memphis their first building block towards building a contender.

However, their offense is what sputtered in the postseason. After a decent showing in the regular season, the reserves ranked 14th out of the 16 playoff teams in playoff bench scoring, shooting a putrid 38.9 percent from the field and an even more alarming 62.5 percent from the free-throw stripe. Especially with their youth, the Grizzlies should bolster their offense by getting more reliable scoring options off the bench.

Memphis recently traded for Eric Bledsoe, who is not expected to stay, and Steven Adams. Bledsoe’s contract may be used as cap fodder for a veteran via trade unless they convince him to stay.

Pressed up against the salary cap, I believe the perfect low-cost targets for the Grizzlies in free agency are Otto Porter, Jr. and former Grizzly Jeff Green. Memphis has a lot of young, capable guards and both forwards can pack a scoring punch while also mentoring young bigs Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke.