MEMPHIS – The Grizzlies’ offseason is winding down and training camp opens in a
month.
The roster has been in transition, with eight new players and seven departures
amid a supporting cast makeover that’s taking shape. As August reaches its
stretch run, Grind City Media wraps up its look at who’s in, who’s out and what
impact the transition will have at various spots on the Grizzlies’ roster.
IN: Garrett Temple, 6-6, SG/SF
Deal: 1 year/$8 million expiring contract, acquired from Kings on July 17
Last season: 8.4ppg. (39.2%3ptFG), 2.3rpg, 1.9apg in 65 games
OUT: Ben McLemore, 6-5, SG
Deal: 1 year/$5.4 million expiring contract, traded to Kings on July 17
Last season: 7.5ppg. (42.1%FG), 2.5rpg., 0.9sapg in 56 games with Grizzlies
The Grizzlies’ most unsettled position the past couple of years has been at
shooting guard, where there’s been instability since Tony Allen’s heyday. But
even then, Memphis has had a revolving door of wings sliding in and out of favor
under multiple coaches the past few seasons. Last summer’s addition turned out
to be a dud when McLemore broke his foot a couple of weeks after signing a
two-year, $10.7 million deal, and he never established his footing with the
Grizzlies.
In quietly one of the best and shrewdest moves of the offseason, the Grizzlies
packaged two underperforming players in McLemore and third-year center Deyonta
Davis, along with cash considerations, to the Kings in exchange for a reliable
swingman in Temple. That move signified the offseason overhaul at the shooting
guard position for the Grizzlies, who also watched standout Tyreke Evans walk in
free agency and, on Tuesday, released second-year developmental guard Kobi
Simmons from his ‘Two-Way’ contract.
McLemore, despite best intentions of all involved, including a strong proponent
in former coach David Fizdale, failed to be the shooter, scorer or athletic
force on the wing all had hoped. Now, McLemore returns to the team that drafted
him in the lottery five years ago, a place that ran through four different head
coaches in four years trying to find a spark. The fact that Memphis’
front-office staff was able to hit the reset button on the McLemore mistake so
swiftly underscores the team’s subtle but significant offseason success.
Eight different players, including McLemore, started at shooting guard last
season. And that position remains one of the biggest mysteries entering the
start of training camp next month. Evans’ scoring and playmaking versatility at
the big guard spot will be missed. McLemore? Maybe not so much.
The return of a healthy Mike Conley from heel surgery is the best thing that can
happen at the shooting guard position for the Grizzlies. No, that last line
isn’t a typo. We realize Conley is the franchise catalyst at point guard. But
his scoring, playmaking and ability to initiate offense at all three levels
(three-point range, mid-range and in the paint) will dictate how far Memphis
goes in J.B. Bickerstaff’s first season as fulltime head coach. There’s been
plenty of talk about doubling down on the Grit N Grind approach as the team
loaded up on defensive stalwarts who are also versatile assets on offense.
That’s exactly where players such as Temple come in. But make no mistake about
it: Bickerstaff and new lead assistant Chad Forcier have been in the lab this
summer crafting an offensive system predicated on early transition scoring
opportunities and, from there, cutting, spacing and secondary ball-movement in
halfcourt sets. Temple has played with seven different teams in as many years in
the league, but he’s brought the same valuable intangibles everywhere he’s been.
He plays the point, shooting guard and small forward positions, and can defend
all three of those spots equally well.
Temple represents the kind of interchangeable, high-IQ roster upgrade the
Grizzlies’ brass has been all about this summer. He started 35 games in
Sacramento last season and posted an effective field-goal shooting percentage of
51.2 while also shooting a career-high 39.2-percent from three-point range.
Earlier this month, Temple showed his shooting range and his playmaking ability
as one of Team World’s primary ball-handlers in a win over Team Africa in the
NBA Africa Game. Temple made four of eight shots and finished with 11 points,
three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 24 minutes.
In other words, count Temple among the plug-and-play options the Grizzlies have
throughout the roster. He established a rapport with Bickerstaff during their
time together in South Africa this summer, and Temple has also gotten acquainted
off the court in recent weeks with Conley on the golf course. Temple likely
won’t start at shooting guard this season, but expect him to create tough
competition for that spot in a mix that includes Dillon Brooks, MarShon Brooks
and Wayne Selden Jr. as the likely top contenders.
At the end of the day, this could very well wind up a
shooting-guard-by-committee situation for the Grizzlies, who have more quality
options than available minutes at that spot. The good news is that all of the
primary players are team-first guys who bring unique strengths to the table.
Dillon Brooks, coming off a promising rookie season, is the best two-way option
with the most upside. MarShon Brooks is the best pure scorer and shooter. Selden
is a do-it-all physical specimen when healthy. And Temple is a jack of all
trades who has made a living in the league as a certified role player.
The Grizzlies still might not have a clear answer at shooting guard heading into
training camp. But with Temple on board to add layers of depth and reliability
McLemore was unable to offer, Memphis has turned a position of relative weakness
and concern into one of potential strength.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Memphis
Grizzlies. All opinions expressed by Michael Wallace are solely his own and do
not reflect the opinions of the Memphis Grizzlies or its Basketball Operations
staff, owners, parent companies, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known
to the Memphis Grizzlies and he has no special access to information beyond the
access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the
media.
Player: Garrett Temple
Player: Ben McLemore
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