And so it goes. The Grizzlies’ season has ended with a Game 6 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the semi-conference finals.
Normally this is where I would have written out a recap of the game, but I am not doing that today. If you’ve been following this team, you already know how Game 6 turned out. There will be plenty of time to second guess decisions and criticize playmaking down the stretch. *cough* Dillon Brooks *cough*
Now feels like a good time to reflect on a historic season instead.
It was a record-breaking season regardless of how you look at it. This team broke franchise records and league records alike. They had individual players leading the league in several categories. They tied their franchise record for most wins in a season with 56 wins.
We saw developmental leaps for Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and league-anointed Most Improved Player Ja Morant.
This squad didn’t get as far as they would have liked, but they got further than anyone predicted. The hunger to win a championship is strong with them. The championship window for this team is officially wide open and will be for the foreseeable future.
There are no moral victories and close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. But no one can deny that this young Memphis team had a hell of a run this season. Far outpacing expectations and having shown they can go toe-to-toe with any team in the league, there should be no apologies and no hanging of heads. Chins up and chests out.
Just because the season has officially ended does not mean that the players or the front office intend to spend the summer resting on their laurels. Rookie forward Ziaire Williams showed lots of potential throughout the regular season and the postseason. Williams stated in his exit interview he was looking forward to putting in work in the offseason and playing in the Summer League.
There are still decisions to be made regarding free agency, the specifics of which cannot be legally discussed at this time, but Grizzlies general manager and 2022 Executive of the Year Zach Kleiman has alluded to having no worries about finances hindering them. During end-of-season media availability, Kleiman stated “we are not going to have any issue paying anyone we want to pay.”
It is my sincerest hope that includes Kyle Anderson and Tyus Jones, who will be unrestricted free agents. Memphis also holds a team option for Brandon Clarke, one they would be wise to exercise.
In other free agency news — Ja Morant is eligible to sign a rookie contract extension when free agency starts in July, which he has emphatically affirmed that he would be signing. Morant is eligible for a five-year, $181 million max contract.
In closing, my advice is just this:
Run it back and let’s do it again next year.
