Shams Charania believes Memphis Grizzlies are in a solid position to acquire another star player
Shams Charania believes the Memphis Grizzlies are in a great position to add another star player to their team. Memphis has been carried by their homegrown talent led by Ja Morant, followed by Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and others into championship contention status.
This has allowed them to remain flexible. The Grizzlies have five first-rounders at their disposal, which they could use in a blockbuster trade. They also have veteran Danny Green's expiring $10 million contract to move around. Here's what Charania had to say about the Grizzlies' flexibility during an appearance on Fan Duel TV:
"They have all their flexibility moving forward... They have like five first round picks to play with, and those are the picks they put on the table in any deal for Kevin Durant when they enquired on him in the summer...
"They can really go get a star player out there in the marketplace or whenever that guy becomes available. The question's gonna be, internally do they want to continue to do it in-house, homegrown talent, or do you want to go out and use your assets."
The Memphis Grizzlies finished last season as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 56-26 record. Ja Morant emerged as an MVP candidate, while Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. developed into quality co-stars. Meanwhile, the depth was also fascinating. Their 20-5 record in the absence of Morant was a testament to that.
The Grizzlies proved it wasn't a fluke by continuing to perform at a high level this year. Morant is producing MVP-caliber numbers, while Bane and Jackson have steadily grown into All-Star-caliber players.
Meanwhile, their roster remains deep with the emergence of players like Tyus Jones and Santi Aldama, among others. The Grizzlies are No. 2 in the West with a 23-13 record, a game behind the top-ranked Denver Nuggets.
Memphis Grizzlies should remain patient despite the flexibility to add another star
It's never easy to create a perennial contender with homegrown talent. The NBA has become unpredictable, and superstar players are constantly on the move. While acquiring big names seems like an enticing prospect, it doesn't always lead to success.
Take the Lakers, for example. They broke up their championship-winning roster after failing to defend their title the following season. Despite boasting three potential Hall of Famers in LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, LA could miss the playoffs for a second straight year.
The Memphis Grizzlies have done excellent with their roster as presently constructed. They have made minor moves to ensure they have the ideal supporting cast around Ja Morant and an ideal roster balance. So far, it's working out for them.
They have also tied Morant and Jackson to long-term deals, giving them the cushion to be patient with how things play out this season and potentially next year. The Grizzlies can manage to put down a framework and possibly acquire stars on their wishlist.
However, relying on their recruitment process through the draft has been a successful process for the Memphis Grizzlies, and it seems like an ideal thing to do at the moment.