Last Season Overview:

After a strong beginning to the season at best the second seed in the west, but after the all star break, they collapsed leading to the firing of Taylor Jenkins and falling all the way to the eight seed leading to an embarrassing performance to the eventual champions OKC in a quick 4 game series.

Trades

Desmond Bane to Orlando for KCP, Cole Anthony, 4 Firsts, and 1 Swap

Grade: A

What this year proved was the money given between their three stars for the ceiling that they likely are was not worth keeping. In Bane’s time in Memphis, they only won one playoff series. This team was just not good enough to be able to keep all three of them and Bane was the most expendable. Getting that haul gives them the ability to reset around JJJ and Ja.

NBA Draft

Round 1: Cedric Coward (WSU) at #11 Overall

Grade: B+

Trading up from #16 to fill the clear hole that they’ve lacked in this Morant era, a true 3&D forward. Coward in his 6 games at Washington State showed his ability as a 3 point shooter and high level defender with a 7’2” wingspan. Memphis has spent multiple picks to try to find that kind of player and the trade up giving up another Orlando first from the Desmond Vane trade but that shows they know Coward can be their guy.

Round 2: Javon Small (WV)

Grade: A

Although Memphis has a logjam at guard, they get one of the better second round players. Small brings a spark plug player that Memphis hasn’t really had consistently, Small can hopefully grow into that role over time in Memphis.

Free Agency Moves

Extend Jaren Jackson Jr to a 5 year $240M Extension

Grade: B

The money for this extension may be a lot but it’s clear in why they did it. It might be more than some people can stomach for JJJ, but you had to pay him this, his defense and growth as an offensive player next to Ja gets you the clear second option next to Morant. In a league where more landmark deals are made every year, this contract won’t look too much soon.

Resign Santi Aldama to a 3 year $52.5M Contract

Grade: B+

After a year, where at times seemed up and down for Aldama, his importance to this team can’t be unmatched. His ability as a 7 footer with his shooting ability next to Morant and JJJ is important, with them clearly building this new era of the team around them, Aldama was a needed piece to keeping this teams depth at one of the best in the league, with him also potentially with the absence of Bane leading to him potentially starting next season.

Sign Ty Jerome to a 3 year $27.6M Contract

Grade: A

Memphis was at their best a few years ago, when Ja was absent having Tyus Jones backup for him, they had a better record without him. Getting a capable backup after Morant has had multiple seasons with injury problems, gives them the insurance to where when that happens they have a clear option. Jerome is by far the best to do that, being top 3 in 6MOTY last season and having a career year in Cleveland.

Sign Cam Spencer to a 2 year $4.5M Contract

Grade: B+

After Luke Kennard left to Atlanta, Spencer will assume the role that Kennard was the past two years. Getting more time as the year went on last year, Spencer ability as a shooter off ball next to JJJ and Morant give them the needed spacing next to one of the lesser three point shooters in Morant.

Overall Offseason Grade: A

Next Season Overview: I feel like Memphis will be a good team, bringing Isalo in for a full offseason as the coach gives them the identity they lacked at the end of the year, while the depth added to an already deep roster should give them the room to bounce back to being known as a great regular season team, but next year they will need to have a good playoffs to show what the future of Memphis will be long term