Regreatful decision The Memphis Grizzlies agree to move and…
Regreatful decision The Memphis Grizzlies agree to move and…
With a miserable final record of 27–55, it is understandable that the Memphis Grizzlies are already reflecting on their 2023–24 season with a great deal of contempt and general disillusionment.
When the story of their gap year comes to light, fans and club staff alike will almost certainly be thinking back on the “what could have beens” had a few things gone a little differently, from important player suspensions to a record-setting amount of injuries.
There are reasons to be made that the Grizzlies may have some regrets about decisions taken during the campaign, even while other hardships suffered, such health issues, were simply out of anyone’s control. Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report notes that maybe the largest error most likely was their signing of Marcus Smart, a seasoned guard.
The Marcus Smart deal is considered the Memphis Grizzlies’ “biggest regret.”
In July of last year, Smart was acquired through a trade with the Boston Celtics. The idea behind adding a player of Smart’s caliber was to support Tyus Jones in his role as the team’s secondary playmaker while also offering a defensive intensity and energy that were reminiscent of Dillon Brooks’ six-year tenure in Grind City.
Sadly, the 30-year-old’s influence did not live up to preseason expectations because of injuries that plagued him and, to be honest, the entire Grizzlies club. Hughes contends that, at this point, the contract may plausibly fall under the category of a “disaster.”
“He played in just 20 games and was unable to save Memphis from having one of the worst seasons in league history.
In the three-team trade that resulted in Smart’s acquisition, Tyus Jones was sent to the Washington Wizards. The Grizzlies’ prior backup point guard topped the league in assist-to-turnover ratio for six consecutive seasons and shot 41.4 percent from beyond the arc. Even if Smart had been well, he would have been a more suitable replacement for Morant in his absence.
And let’s not absolve Memphis on that particular point; given Smart’s tough demeanor, missing time ought to have been expected. He had only played more than 70 games before this season, back in 2018–19.
The Grizzlies forfeited the pick as well.that developed into Marcus Sasser, who has a chance to be on an All-Rookie team and who owns the rights to the Warriors’ first-round pick in 2024, which is protected in the top four.”
