2013-2014 Finish: 17-65

Season Highlight

The end. With the very public plans to tank the 2014 season, it was always going to be a long year for Grizzlies fans, and most would have been thankful when the season came to a close. The tanking worked, with the Grizzlies only winning 17 games, and owning pick 3 in the draft, along with picks 19 and 22.

Season Lowlight

Did I mention they won 17 games? After 43 wins in the previous season, former GM Rasho decided the tank was on, trading away anyone who was playing well, for youth and injured players, the tanking worked, but probably cost the gm his job, with Rasho eventually leaving town, feeling the heat from the people of Memphis.

Best Trade

The Memphis Grizzlies send Ben Gordon to the Phoenix Suns. The Phoenix Suns send David West and Glen Rice Jr. to the Memphis Grizzlies. 

I liked this one for the Grizzlies. They turned the aging Ben Gordon into rookie Glen Rice Jr and the always consistent David West. While Gordon’s NBA counterpart struggles, West’s thrives and Rice Jr certainly has the pedigree to be a good player.

Worst Trade

The Memphis Grizzlies send Joakim Noah to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Philadelphia 76ers send Tiago Splitter and Jeremy Lamb to the Memphis Grizzlies. 
The Philadelphia 76ers send a 1st-Rounder (Phi) to the Memphis Grizzlies. 

The Memphis Grizzlies trade -5 GM points.The Philadelphia 76ers receive 5 GM points.

 

Never a man of many deals, this was probably Rasho’s worst. Noah is fast becoming one of the most versatile and dominant big men in basketball, and while Lamb brings potential and Splitter gets the job done, this is probably a win for Philly.

Other Notable Trades

The Memphis Grizzlies send Zach Randolph to the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat send Brook Lopez to the Memphis Grizzlies. 
The Miami Heat send a 1st-Rounder (Dal) and 2nd-Rounder (Mia) to the Memphis Grizzlies. 

This deal epitomized the tanking strategy, trading out double double machine Randolph for the injured Brook Lopez. This was a pretty smart trade based on that strategy, and if Lopez can ever get consistently healthy, this becomes a pretty good deal.

The Denver Nuggets send Evan Fournier to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Memphis Grizzlies send Danilo Gallinari to the Denver Nuggets. 
The Denver Nuggets send a 1st-Rounder (Den) to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Memphis Grizzlies send a 1st-Rounder (Phi) to the Denver Nuggets. 

The first trade of new Memphis GM bacthemac. A nice deal for both teams, Gallinari gives Denver a great wing scorer, while Memphis upgraded one of their first round picks, and brings in a younger version of Gallo.

Best FA Signing

Vitor Faverani – No free agents of note in Memphis, this signing at least irked Sheed, so that’s something.

Worst FA Signing

Everyone else- A few 10 day contracts, some other minimum guys, nobody really contributed anything meaningful.

Star                                          

Jeff Teague- Signed to a 4 year, $8 million deal to begin the season, Teague earned every penny, averaging 14 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds per game. Teague will be looking forward to having some more help next season.

Surprise

Jeremy Lamb- Memphis desperately needed some scoring, and Lamb did a great job filling that need when brought across, averaging 18 points and 4 rebounds per game. He should get first crack at the starting shooting guard spot.

Goat

Marquis Teague- While his brother Jeff enjoyed a great season, Marquis really struggled despite great opportunity. In 70 games, Marquis only averaged 4 points shooting 24% from the field and 0-44 from the three point line.

Draft Report Card

Dante Exum- New aussie GM bacthemac didn’t hesitate, calling out fellow aussie Exum at pick 3. Possibly a bit of a reach, as Exum is a largely unknown talent, hopefully he shows more than he did at the world cup.

Adreian Payne- A long, athletic power forward, Payne can score from range. He needs to put on some muscle, but he could be a sleeper in this draft class.

Bruno Caboclo – A huge surprise to see Caboclo off the board at 22, rumour has it bacthemac may have been afk, forcing the Grizzlies to take the Brazilian forward. Who knows what his NLL career may produce.

 Looking to the Future

After a tough year, full of tanking and many, many losses. The Grizzlies roster is starting to shape up pretty nicely on paper, maybe all that losing was worth it. All the important pieces are signed up, three first round picks are incoming, and Memphis have 4 really solid positional pieces in Lopez, Teague, West and Lamb/Exum to build around. There is a hole at small forward with Gallinari no longer around, perhaps Markieff Morris can fill the role, or perhaps a trade will be made. Either way, bacthemac has a lot to work with.

Upcoming Free Agents

Tornike Shengelia- Shengelia, from Georgia, will probably end up back in Europe.

Bernard James- A cheap, no nonsense big, James will likely re-sign with the Grizzlies.

Aron Baynes â€“ A restricted free agent, Baynes showed heaps for the Australian national team in the world cup, I’m sure he will be kept around.

Ronnie Price- The veteran point guard will likely hook on with another NLL team this off-season.