Renew 3J& trade Bain! The competition in the West is fierce. Why did the Grizzlies, which won 48 last season, still have to subtract?

The new season countdown is 27 days. Looking back on last season, how do you evaluate the Memphis Grizzlies who were swept in the first round?

The Grizzlies had 48 wins and 34 losses last season, with offensive efficiency sixth and defensive efficiency 10th. They were in the top 10th on offense and defensive efficiency, which was by no means a weak team. But in the West, where the competitive environment is extremely fierce, 48 wins can only rank 8th in the West, losing to the Warriors and then defeating the Mavericks in the play-offs, and finally challenging the Thunder with the No. 8 seed in the West (68 wins and 14 losses).

Grizzlies ace Morant played only the first three games in the series. In the second quarter of G3, Morant made a fast break layup by Dortmund and lost his balance and fell to the ground. He was helped to leave the field on the spot and missed the remaining game.

Morant contributed 15 points and 5 assists when leaving the game. The Grizzlies led the Thunder 67-40 by 27 points, and they are very likely to tie the big score to 1-2. However, because Morant withdrew from the game due to injury, the Grizzlies' offensive efficiency plummeted to 30%. The Thunder scored 35-12 in the third quarter, and finally completed a 29-point reversal. The Grizzlies fell behind 0-3 in the series and fell into a desperate situation.

Morant was injured, the Grizzlies VS Thunder series completely lost suspense, and the Grizzlies unfortunately suffered a sweep in the first round due to the injury to the ace.

With Morant or not, the Grizzlies are obviously two teams, and each of them almost carries the rise and fall of the Grizzlies in recent years.

In the 2016-17 season, Gasol Jr., Zach Randolph, Conley, and Tony Allen entered the playoffs for the last time; in the 2017-18 season, the Grizzlies started a comprehensive reconstruction with 22 wins and 60 losses; in the 2019 draft, the Grizzlies selected Morant with the second pick.

Morant was at his peak when he debuted. The rookie averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 assists per game in the season and was elected Rookie of the Year. He led the team to the playoffs in the second grade, and averaged 30.2 points and 8.2 assists in his first playoff journey in his career. He led the team to win 50+ games for two consecutive years in the third and fourth grades, officially declared that the Grizzlies rose to become a strong team in the Western Conference!

But Morant is a "problem boy". He was banned by the NBA for holding a gun twice in live broadcasts for 25 games. After returning, he suffered a shoulder injury and was reimbursed for the season. He only played 9 games in the entire 2023-24 season. The Grizzlies, who have won more than 50 wins for two consecutive years, were also in a slump due to Morant's long absence, and ended in a bleak ending of 27 wins and 55 losses.

2024-25 season, Morant, who was relatively healthy and played in 50 regular season games, led the team to 48 wins and 34 losses.

It is not difficult to find that as the Grizzlies' cornerstone ace star, Morant's attendance rate is closely related to the team's performance in recent years, and it shares honor and disgrace. Whether Morant can maintain health in the new season and avoid off-court problems is of great significance to the Grizzlies.

The most important operation of the Grizzlies during the offseason was undoubtedly to send away 27-year-old Bain, and exchange it for Pope + Cole Anthony + four unprotected first rounds + one first round swap!

I believe everyone has the same doubts. Life is good, why did the Grizzlies send Bain away?

Bain averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game in the regular season last season, with a three-point shooting percentage of 39.2% (2.4/6.1), and is a 3D wing with both offense and defense. Since 2020, only Bain, Curry and Laven can hit 800 three-pointers and a three-point shooting percentage of 40%. Bain's three-point shooting percentage in the past five seasons has reached 43.2%!

Bain's performance in the playoffs this year failed to meet expectations, averaging only 15.3 points and 3.3 assists per game, shooting percentage was only 31.7%, and his three-point shooting percentage was as low as 21.9%. His shooting accuracy dropped seriously and his performance was very unsatisfactory.

Bain's 5-year, 207 million max salary contract has 4 years and 170 million left. The Grizzlies will renew Jaren Jackson Jr. (240 million in five years and 240 million in five years and 193 million in five years and 3 years left. The Grizzlies are really unable to bear three major contracts.

In order to avoid the future salary explosion, the Grizzlies chose to break up the team in advance, exchanged Bain (salary of 36.72 million in the new season) for Pope (21.62 million) + Cole Anthony (13.1 million), and sacked Cole Anthony with extended terms and paid his remaining salary in three years (3.7 million in three years). This move was to make room for Jaren Jackson Jr. to renew his contract.

The Grizzlies have achieved precise tax control. After renewing the contract with Jaren Jackson Jr., he will control the total salary to 171.5 million yuan after confirming the team's roster, and there is no need to pay luxury tax in the new season.

The Grizzlies have a clear idea of ​​building a team. It is good to maintain competitiveness while avoiding taxes, which can ensure stable team operations and revenue.

The Grizzlies gave Jaren Jackson Jr. a five-year, $240 million in contract renewal this summer, and determined that the team building model will be based on Jaren Jackson Jr. and Morant's internal and external dual cores with practical puzzles. The team framework will be relatively stable in the next three to five years.

Grizzlies also gave Aldama 52.5 million in three years (the third year team option). This high-quality space-type inside line with a 24-year-old, 213 cm per game shooting percentage of 41.7% per game has become an important firepower point on the Grizzlies' bench, and he is comparable to the Grizzlies' own "Naz Reed".

The Grizzlies signed Ty Jerome, who performed very well in the Cavaliers last season with 28 million in three years (the third year player option). He averaged 12.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 19.9 minutes last season, and his three-point shooting percentage reached 43.9%. The best sixth man ranked third!

Jerome can play the role of Tyame Jones in the Grizzlies. ESPN evaluates Jerome as a top player at the "low-end starter and high-quality substitute" level. Considering Morant's attendance rate, Jerome can start when Morant is absent, and can also serve as the sixth man when Morant plays. With Jerome, the Grizzlies will be more conducive to alleviating the fluctuations in Morant's performance when he is absent..

The Grizzlies spent three draft picks to trade upward in this year's draft, and got the senior 3D wing Sidrick Koward. He is 196 cm tall and has a 38.8% three-point shooting percentage in his college career. He also has the ability to fight against multiple positions. The Grizzlies are very good at cultivating 3D engineers, and Coward's future positioning is likely to be similar to Wells, OG Jackson, and Vince Williams Jr.

The Grizzlies are paired with Zach Eddie, Aldama, Wells, Pope, Clark, Jerome, Conchar, Coward, Spencer, OG Jackson, Vince Williams, Pippen, and Landale, a practical puzzle around Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., and will still be a strong team with both offense and defense in the new season.

The Western Conference environment is extremely inclined in the new season. The Thunder, Rockets, Clippers and Nuggets are still avoiding taxes. Compared with the championship, it is obviously the result that the management wants more to make steady progress in the playoffs for many years.

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