Real Talk: Grizzlies Off-season Questions to Consider with the Ladies of All Heart

The Grizzlies season came to an end after being swept by the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs average margin of victory was 22 points per game.

 

The end result of the season was predictable since the Grizzlies weren’t a complete team. As I’ve mentioned before, this team was battered and bruised. But one thing that can be said – they showed heart.

 

“They played with a lot of heart and a lot of fortitude,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “Dave [Joerger] and his staff and those players deserve a lot of credit. It’s not just false praise. They really do because it wasn’t a fair fight and they didn’t care.”

 

The season had taken a toll on the coaches and the players alike. It seemed like someone had a Voodoo doll of the Grizzlies and used them for a pin cushion all season. So many bad things happened to this team, yet they persevered and made the playoffs.

 

Dave Joerger and the Grizzlies relationship ended abruptly on May 7th. Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace discussed a coaching change with a Q&A available on the Grizzlies website.

 

In this piece, The ladies of All Heart will discuss and analyze questions to ponder for the Grizzlies in the off-season.

 

1) What coach do you want the Grizzlies to hire?

Carmen Patton: I didn’t think I’d be answering this question at the end of the season.  Ideally, I want a coach that can get along well with the front office and has the respect of the team.  This team needs a coach in place BEFORE the draft, preferably before the end of this month.  Everyone needs to be on the same page about the direction of this team going into the draft and the free agency period.  That’s been the Achilles heel of the franchise, in my opinion.

 

When the news first hit about Joerger’s termination, I was adamant that they needed to get Frank Vogel on the line immediately.  Now, I’m trying to learn a little about one of the other names I’m hearing frequently mentioned, Ettore Messina.  I’ve heard a few names tossed out, but my initial thought was Frank Vogel.

 

Tabitha Richard: I want the Grizzlies to hire a coach that can fuse the “Grit-and-Grind” mental toughness this team is founded on with the fast-paced offense required to be successful in today’s NBA. Being an elite team defensively can only get you so far when teams regularly score three pointers on you.

It’s obvious that a lack of offensive efficiency has been the Achilles heel of the Grizz. While someone like Frank Vogel has head coaching experience, I genuinely don’t know that he has the capability to make the Grizzlies competitive offensively.

Memphis doesn’t necessarily have the power to bring a big name coach here either, evidenced by the slew of assistant coach interviews we’ve been seeing. Right now I wouldn’t be bothered if they gave James Borrego a shot. He has experience with exactly the type of team the Grizzlies should aspire to become and has been groomed under one of the greatest coaches in NBA history

 

Aimee Stiegemeyer: I immediately thought of Frank Vogel to Memphis as soon as it was announced he was not being retained by the Pacers, actually a day or so before the Grizzlies announced the firing of Dave Joerger.

Vogel is the best suited out of all available coaches with head coaching experience to successfully coach the players we know will be on the roster next year. I know that most of the attention has been focused on Mike Conley signing a new contract, so it’d be easy to forget that we are still going to have three of the Core Four on the roster.

That said, I think if they were going to hire Vogel they probably would have done so by now, so this could all really be moot anyhow. I’d also be okay with Patrick Ewing, if we are going to end up someone who will be filling the head coach role for the first time.

 

Sharon Brown: Personally, I don’t the think the Grizzlies need a big name coach. The Grizzlies have interviewed numerous candidates for the head coaching position. Personally, I really am not looking for a big name coach. Many assistants have went on to become NBA champions as head coaches.

I just want a coach that can develop the young players and can be on the same page with both players and management. He needs to have the ability to persuade the players to buy in to what he wants accomplish offensively and defensively. And I want him to be able to motivate the team.

I really don’t care who the coach is….I’m more concerned with the roster changes.

 

2) Will Mike Conley re-sign or move on?

Carmen: If I had to rank my certainty on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being No Way and 10 being Without Question, I’d say I’m a 9.  I was a 10 until I had the opportunity to go to the exit interviews for the season.

There’s a minimal amount of doubt in mind just because he was elusive, yet telling at the same time.  Conley wants to be in Memphis.  He got his start here; his career blossomed here.  Memphis is what he knows.  Plus, he promised Marc Gasol they would be here together when it was Gasol’s turn to sign last year.

He wants to see some changes though.  He wants the Grizzlies front office to bring some more talent in.  Chris Wallace and team have pretty much gone on record saying that they’re going to do what it takes to keep him here.  What it takes is signing some fresh faces.

Additionally, Conley has to weigh whether or not his chances of advancing are better with this franchise or another.  Honestly, I can’t think of a contending team that would be looking to sign Conley as their starting point guard.

The true contenders are pretty settled with their point guards.  It’s irrational, to me, to leave a contending team to go to a non-contender especially when the table has pretty much been set for Conley and Gasol to lead this team going forward.

So does he sign?  I say yes, but I think he makes us sweat it out a little bit first.

 

Tabitha: I firmly believe that he will re-sign with Memphis. To me, the front office has always set their sights on a Conley-Gasol package leading the team forward. Mike Conley’s low-key personality fits well for our small market team. He has a history here and players that he has grown with. Unless the Grizzlies just make an embarrassingly low offer there is no way Conley moves on.

Conley is part of the heartbeat of this team. While the “Core Four” may not be around forever, the Gasol-Conley combo will stick together like Duncan and Parker. Although Conley will be courted by other teams, I just don’t see Chris Wallace letting him go. Even if that means Wallace lets a healthy Conley-Gasol combo shape the future of Memphis’ style of play.

 

Aimee: I have honestly never even considered that he wouldn’t, at least up until very recently. Being completely non-objective, in my heart I know that Mike Conley belongs in a Grizzlies uniform for the duration of his NBA career, long may it be, and to see his number 11 up in the rafters next to a championship banner he helped bring here.

Even with the struggles of this past season, Conley is one of the top point guards in the league, and I hope everyone still recognizes that, front office especially. Y’all better give Mike his money.

 

Sharon: I don’t know but I think it is highly likely. Conley has to do what is best for him and his family. He is an integral part of this team. I don’t blame him for wanting more from the Grizzlies front office.

He’s grown here and has become one of the top 10 point guards in the league. Conley will get paid regardless if he stays here or leave. I really don’t think it’s about the money with Conley. He just wants to win. I want him to stay in Beale Street Blue but if he goes, it won’t upset me as much. I know he has to do what is best for him so I won’t be selfish if he decides he needs to move on.

 

3) Will the Grizzlies pick up the option on Lance Stephenson?

Carmen: It’s funny how your opinion can change in a few months.  If you asked me this question in February, I would have answered, I certainly hope not!  The shenanigans of Stephenson preceded him.  There was no way I wanted Lebron’s Ear Blower on my squad.  Plus, he seemed to have lost his touch since he was in Indiana anyway.

Fast forward to now.  I’ve had a few interactions with him since he’s been here, and they’ve all been good.  He seemed genuinely grateful to be a part of this franchise.  I say get the man’s paperwork together now and just put it in an envelope with his name on it until July 1st.

There are a few reasons I think it’s wise for Memphis to pick up Stephenson’s option.  One, he averaged 14.2 points per game in the 26 games he played in Memphis this season.  He was an integral bench player.

The Grizzlies need that kind of a role player on the roster.  Two, he’s willing to evolve his game.  In his exit interview, he mentioned learning how to play off the ball and wanting to do what it takes to be a role player for a healthy Memphis Grizzlies team.

Three, Memphis is a redemption city.  Ask Zach Randolph.  I think this relationship could be mutually beneficial for years to come just like the Memphis & Randolph relationship has been.  He wants a team to call home, and he likes it here.  I think it’s a win win situation for he and Memphis.

 

Tabitha: “Real talk” in my opinion: Will Mike Conley and Marc Gasol give the okay to let the Grizzlies pick up the option on Lance Stephenson? If you ask me, they are going to be a HUGE part of calling the shots during free agency.

Stephenson has a great potential upswing coming off the bench. (Interpretation: a Gasol-less floor) Coming off the bench he has the capability to boost the Grizzlies second unit effectiveness in the paint. His physicality down low is why he shot 58.8% there during the ’15-’16 season.

Stephenson is fun to watch play basketball but he can also bring about costly, sloppy play. While his reckless style fits into the old “Grit-and-Grind” I don’t know that he will be able to find a role moving forward with the starting unit. Overall, if it comes between picking up his option or paying a high percentage wing player, we’re going to pay for the wing.

 

Aimee: I certainly hope so. I think he’s proved his worth for that last year, he wants to be here and we desperately need the dynamic offensive effort Stephenson provided down the stretch. Lance Stephenson was “Born Ready” to wear Beale Street Blue.

 

Sharon: I really would love for the Grizzlies to pick up his option. He’s a player that the Grizzlies had been missing. And I truly believe he can work well with Marc Gasol. He quickly became a fan favorite and I believe he really wants to be here. In 26 games for the Grizzlies, Stephenson averaged 14.2 points per game with a 47.4 field goal percentage.

Stephenson is better suited to come off the bench for this team. Yes, he can be sloppy and reckless at times. He’s more useful than not. There’s more treat than trick. He’s an impact player and has cohesiveness with the bench unit.

 

 

4) Will the Grizzlies be able to attract free agents to Memphis?

Carmen: Yes, they’ll be able to attract players if they can sell an upgraded roster and an upgraded style of play.  The ability to do this is Conley’s deciding factor.  If we want to keep him on the roster, we have to be able to do this.  Conley said it best:  we’ve got the money and the opportunity.

The elephant in the room to me is that players don’t think much of Memphis the city until they’re here.  Once they’re here though, they love it.   Where else can you find fans giving their team a standing ovation after they’ve been swept?  What other franchises lost their starting and back-up point guards and centers and still made the playoffs and weren’t in the last spot doing it?

I think this franchise has established a name for itself.  The struggle is the city of Memphis.  We’ve got a flair that’s hard to comprehend unless you’re here.  It’s going to be up to this team’s leaders to woo talent here.  The franchise is easy to buy into.  It’s the city that people struggle with.  It’s up to the leaders to convince them Memphis is a great place to be.

 

Tabitha: Yes, with the new salary cap, there is literally money all over the table. Now, how much money is going to depend on how much Mike Conley gets on his plate. Memphis has visited the playoffs for their sixth season in a row now giving them the second longest streak in the Western Conference.

Sure, they haven’t won a Championship or even a Conference Finals but people are watching the Grizzlies. The market is small but so is San Antonio’s. A young, talented wing player could see the potential of taking advantage of the higher salary cap and lack of “superstar” player here and aspire to fill that role. Hell guys, we could have our very own Kawhi Leonard.

Who that is and who is willing to take that risk is a complete mystery. I believe our Front Office is already out there targeting the free agents they have in mind to fill that role. I just can’t wait to find out who they’ve got up their sleeve.

 

Aimee: I think this is going to depend largely on two things: whether or not Mike Conley signs a new contract, and who the front office brings in as the new head coach.

Historically, Memphis has not exactly been the hottest destination for big name free agents, and with the increase in cap space, lots of teams are going to have more money to throw at guys.

One free agent I hope the front office has near the top of their list is Mario Chalmers. I am firmly in the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” camp, in regards to the things that work for this Grizzlies squad and Rio fits well with the team.

 

Sharon: I don’t see why they shouldn’t be able to. When was the last time the Grizzlies had enough money to go after good free agents? I doubt it will be a big name player but they can possibly sign a good player. Many players who come to Memphis are impressed with the camaraderie of the players and the dedication of the fans. Memphis has a lot to offer contrary to popular opinion. And the free agents will come to a team with a players that will play hard and want to win.

What I do want are players to come in and mesh with the team have that one team, one goal mindset and play their hearts out EVERY night on the floor and be consistent.

 

5) What will the Grizzlies accomplish in the draft?

Carmen: The Grizzlies need a young small forward.  It’s time out for guards.  It’s time out for bigs.  This team needs someone on the wing that can shoot and grow with the franchise.  I don’t run anything but my mouth with the franchise, but a small forward is what they need.  If they don’t go after one (a good one), I don’t think they’ve done well.

 

Tabitha: I don’t expect the draft to be where the Grizzlies find their magical player. Based on the way Wallace trades he doesn’t think so either. But hey, a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again. Right?

 

Aimee: I’m going to opt out of this one because I am entirely unprepared to answer it. Not Dedric Lawson? That’s all I’ve got.

 

Sharon: I’m not too fond of the draft as others. I don’t think it should be heavily relied upon, since sometimes it take years to tap into the potential for most of the players coming out of college.

Teams take chances on every players they sign. I’m more concerned with the UFAs (unrestricted free agents) they may sign or who they will trade for. I believe they will use the draft picks they received from last season trades to either move up in the draft or make deals for other trades.

They need a viable player at small forward [it is what they have been missing for a very very long time], a solid back up point guard who can shoot & play defense, a reliable shooting guard because TA can come off the bench if need be.