It could have been the end of an era in Memphis if Marc Gasol chose to leave the Grizzlies this offseason. Fortunately, Gasol had no intentions of talking to other teams, as he was determined to sign a new deal with Memphis.
The grit-and-grind era has been enjoyable to watch, but it wouldn’t be the same if Gasol left. Even though many teams expressed interest in the Spaniard, Gasol re-signed a five-year deal with the Grizzlies.
Retaining Gasol was Memphis’ number one priority this summer, and the Grizzlies got it done without having to outbid other teams. Gasol is the heart and soul of the team due to his bulky size in the paint and physical defense. The big man is also a crafty, intelligent offensive player who has been improving his overall game each season.
With Gasol settled, the Grizzlies made an underrated move by signing Brandan Wright to a bargain deal. Wright inked a three-year, $18 million contract and is expected to serve as the backup to Gasol and Zach Randolph.
This was a graceful move by Memphis, as the 27-year-old role player has been one of the most efficient big men in the league the past few years. Wright has averaged 7.1 points on 60.6 percent shooting from the field throughout his seven-year career. Last year, his player efficiency rating was 20.44, ranking 34th in the league which is not too shabby for a reserve player who played just 19.3 minutes per contest.
Additionally, Wright adds length in the painted area for the Grizzlies, as the 6-foot-9 power forward/center has a wingspan of 7’4”. He uses his long arms and athleticism to adequately swat shots, averaging 1.3 blocks per game last year. With the Grizzlies obtaining Wright, they allowed Kosta Koufos to walk in free agency.
Early in the offseason, Memphis acquired Matt Barnes in exchange for Luke Ridnour. Barnes’ role is uncertain for now since the Grizzlies have excellent wing depth, but the 12-year veteran could undoubtedly provide three-point shooting and tenacious perimeter defense.
Barnes will be jammed behind Courtney Lee, Jeff Green, Vince Carter, and Tony Allen in Memphis’ rotation, but if one of those players is injured or underperforming, Barnes will sufficiently fill in for either one. Adding extra depth at the wing was crucial for the Grizzlies, considering that last season Allen went down with injury during the playoffs and the team struggled without him.
During the draft, the Grizzlies selected Jarell Martin who is a 6-foot-9 forward with potent rebounding abilities. In his sophomore year of collegiate play, the 21-year old averaged 16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds. Since Memphis traded Jon Leuer during draft night, Martin may see several minutes on the floor.
Speaking of Leuer, he was dealt to the Phoenix Suns for Andrew Harrison, who figures to add more depth in the backcourt for Memphis if he is able to make the roster. However during Summer League action, Harrison did not perform too well, averaging 5.4 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game.
The Memphis Grizzlies quietly put together a strong offseason, retaining their starting center and adding a couple of solid role players to deepen their already robust roster. Surely they will be back as a top team in the Western conference, looking to make a deeper playoff run this upcoming season.
Off-Season Grade: B