Our 15th team eliminated, the Memphis Grizzliers after a close loss at home in Game 4 against the Thunder.
Previous Threads:
Spoiler:
Time of death: April 26th, 2025
Record at elimination: 48-34 (1-1 in play-in, 0-4 in playoffs)
Head coach: Tuomas Iisalo (interim), Taylor Jenkins (former, fired late in season)
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/yearly
Contract summary:
Morant – extension eligible, or 3/125M remain
Bane – 4/160M remain
JJJ – extension eligible (may be Max eligible), or 23M expiring
Marvin Bagley - UFA
Kennard - UFA
Brandon Clarke – extension eligible, or 2/24M remain
John Konchar – extension eligible, or 2/12M remain
Jay Huff – 3/8M remain, final year 3M TO
Lamar Stevens – (rest of season)
Rookie Scale/minimums (varies on 2-4 years remaining):
Jaylen Wells – 3yrs remain (injured-wrist)
GG Jackson – 2yrs remain
Scotty Pippen Jr. – 3yr remain
Vincent Williams – 2yrs remain
Santi Aldama – extension eligible or RFA
Zach Edey – 3 years remain
TW
Yuki Kawamura
Zyon Pullin
Cam Spencer
Dead-cap – 8M off the books this year, <500k retained for 2 more years (Mamadi Diakite)
25-26 Capspace – 1st apron team, hard-capped
PICKS for 2025 draft:
GSW 2nd
HOU 2nd
A SMALL SEASON REVIEW:
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies
After a troublesome, injury-plagued 2023/24, this season was of renewed expectations for the Grizzlies. They were able to draft early in the Draft, and selected Zach Edey who had a pretty successful first year campaign. Also Jaylen Wells, MEM's other rookie, played great all things considered.
Memphis was the 2-seed in the West with their core of Morant, Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr keeping the team on the sharp end. Though surprisingly to me, Taylor Jenkins the head coach was let go and Tuomas Iisalo replaced him [that's two i's at the from of his name by the way!]. Iisalo gave a good effort but ultimately MEM dropped into the play-in games. In doing so, they lost to the Warriors, and their chance at the 7-seed, and beat Dallas to earn the 8th seed.
That turn of events fashioned a quick exit as the Thunder swept, though it has to be said that Memphis played a lot better in the final 2 games. Morant was injured during Game 3 after a hard fall and before that MEM had a significant lead. I think the Grizzlies win that game, and perhaps G4, and play back into the series without Morant's exit, tough loss and I hate to see it. In Game 4 saw a very close effort from the short-handed Memphis team ultimately come up short, its offseason begins now.
In terms of team news, the Grizz traded Smart to the Wizards, Laravia to SAC, and received Bagley and Johnny Davis [waived]. This didn't do much except shed salary for MEM. Smart had a very injury plagued 2 seasons with MEM.
Though the season can be successful for a standpoint of improving record, there are a lot of questions to answer about how to improve further and compete for the HCA in the playoffs, because the talent is there. Ja's high-flying act is incredible (see the NBA Top Plays of the Year for some amazing ones, compliments of Ja). The OKC/MEM series turning-point was unfortunately Morant's hard fall taking him out of G3 and G4.
Talk what you will about the fault of the injury, I tentatively agreed with the call on the floor, but I did not like the sequence. 1) take the shot/layup @Pippen Jr., 2) bail out @Dort, 3) go for a layup not a showstopper play @Morant.
Though not all is lost, Edey and Rookie surprise Jaylen Wells played big all year. There's a future for both in the NBA. Scottie Pippen Jr had a stellar playoff series, and there's some nice things to build on. With Memphis at one point being in HCA this year, just getting more consistent play at end of games, and some overall team health will go a long way. They have a few draft picks and extensions necessary to handle, including JJJ's contract if they choose to.
Oh yeah, Brandon Clarke was hurt for the end of the year, too, and this absolutely hurt MEM's depth in the playoffs. He'll be back next season.
How did you think this year went for MEM ? And of course, the poll is available for some input on what you forsee in the offseason and ahead.
