Pau Gasol vs. Marc Gasol (Photo : Jonathan Daniel | Getty Images Sport)
The NBA Free Agency rumors continue as the Memphis Grizzlies have been swept off by the San Antonio Spurs.
Now, the team needs to evaluate their future. The death knell has been prematurely rung for the Grizzlies early in the season with various trade rumors that signaled the end of the "grit and grind era."
Finishing 6th place in the Western Conference would be considered quite an achievement for the valiant Grizzlies especially since they were wrought with injuries, most notably their franchise player Marc Gasol.
However, the big question is how long the Grizzlies can stay relevant. Various teams from the West are expected to take big leaps. The youthful Minnesota Timberwolves will be a year older and they will have Tom Thibodeau whipping them into shape next season. The Denver Nuggets have multiple first round picks and may trade for a star this summer. The Utah Jazz will bring back Dante Exum.
The New Orleans Pelicans, the LA Lakers may also improve if their offseason plans come to fruition and the Sacramento Kings, if they get a good coach, will always have DeMarcus Cousins.
The lower rung of the West playoffs could be very different next season and the Grizzlies cannot just sit down if they don't want to be left out. ESPN Insider took the experts' opinions on the Grizz new direction.
David Thorpe suggested: "Management should sit down with Marc Gasol and coach Dave Joerger and figure out how they want to play. What style, what system, what players? 'Grit and grind' limits their ceiling, and Joerger has shown he can coach in almost any roster in any circumstance. It's time to rebuild around his vision, with Gasol's input. That can include bringing back Mike Conley on a big contract. And they should ask Zach Randolph to chase the sixth man award."
One big takeaway from his suggestion is Randolph as a sixth man. This would open the door for Pau Gasol, as Beale Street Bears projects a scenario where Mike Conley would not be offered a max contract enabling them to hire Pau Gasol at a discount.
Convincing Conley to take less than the max would be challenging, especially if the Knicks or Nets throw max money is challenging so the Grizzlies must assure Conley that they will remain competitive.
Conley is not known to be a selfish player and he even won the Sportsmanship award again. Will he take a different tune and aspire to be an All-Star or a max player, if not with Memphis, somewhere else?
Meanwhile, Pau Gasol and the Bulls are almost assured of separation and depending on Pau's priorities, the best bets for him would be Memphis or San Antonio if Tim Duncan retires. Does he want to chase titles or take one chance to play with his brother and have his career come full circle?
