Memphis Grizzlies offseason issued ‘one word’ descriptor
GM Zach Kleiman was quite active this summer, as he opted to strike on several splashy and tactical moves that, for the most part,
have been praised by both media pundits and fans of the Memphis Grizzlies organization.
And while there have been many different takes on how to label the club’s offseason as a whole, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz recently
summarized things with a rather punny one-word description: “Smart.”
Grizzlies’ offseason receives a humorous yet accurate one-word descriptor
While mainly focusing on the blockbuster trade acquisition of Marcus Smart and how he’ll fill in as a quality
replacement for superstar Ja Morant at the starting one while he serves out his 25-game suspension, as well as how the front office
managed to hold onto a majority of their key players from last season in the process, Swartz argues that the Grizzlies have set
themselves up quite nicely to have a rather successful 2023-24 campaign.
“Smart’s 6’9″ wingspan and overall strength should allow Memphis to easily play three-guard lineups along with Desmond
Bane, who the Grizzlies extended for five years after his breakout season (21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 40.8
percent from three),” Swartz wrote.
“Adding Derrick Rose as another vet in the locker room that Morant can lean on was important as well, and the 34-year-old
should still have a rotation role this season. Memphis added a key starter to this group without sacrificing any major
players outside of Tyus Jones, who was heading for free agency next summer. Overall, a really nice job by the Grizzlies.”
While the loss of Tyus Jones in the Smart trade (dealt to the third-party Washington Wizards) may be viewed as the one
loss that has truly stung this offseason for the Grizzlies, ironically the far-more noteworthy and attention-grabbing
departure of Dillon Brooks in the sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets has actually been widely praised by analysts.
Swartz’s own B/R cohort Greg Swartz even suggested back in July that Kleiman and company dodged a bullet by allowing
their polarizing wing to be snatched up on what is labeled as “the worst contract handed out in free agency,” holding a
value of $86 million spanning over the next four seasons.
Considering how well the team’s decision-makers have handled things over the last several months, it’s hard to argue
against the notion that Memphis had them
Grizzlies star Ja Morant’s dad issues strong statement on son’s troubles
selves one of the more strategic and intelligible offseasons when compared to
the rest of the league.
Ja Morant‘s father, Tee, issued a strongly-worded statement to participants of the Up Next Elite Camp in New Orleans
about the Memphis Grizzlies star’s off-the-court troubles.
“I’m coming from speaking for my son. Make sure, anytime, anywhere, you know the capabilities of everybody
around you. My son didn’t get in trouble cause of the people around him,” Tee Morant said in the now-viral
video. “He got in trouble because of his decisions.”
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