It was all good for the Grizzlies just a couple of months ago. After a 104-103 win over the Spurs on Nov. 21, Memphis stood alone atop the Western Conference with a 12-5 record.
Then it all came crashing down faster than Tony Allen diving for a loose ball. Since that victory in San Antonio, the Grizzlies have gone 7-23, including losses in 12 of their past 13 games. They've plummeted to 14th in the West, six games out of the final playoff spot. A 20-point loss to a Pelicans team without Anthony Davis on Monday night forced Memphis to confront a harsh truth: The "Grit'N'Grind" era is done.
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The Grizzlies finally realized it's time to turn the page, putting both Mike Conley and Marc Gasol on the trade block. The front office knows it has "reached a crossroads," according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, and the organization is prepared to build around rookie center Jaren Jackson Jr.
It's important for Memphis management to recognize turning the Grizzlies back into a playoff team won't happen overnight. And for Grizz fans, it's important to know any immediate returns in a Conley or Gasol trade might not look all that promising on the surface.
Moving Gasol will be complicated, as he has a $25.5 million player option for the 2019-20 season. The market for Gasol would likely grow if he was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The class of 2019 free agents could turn July into a spending bonanza, and no general manager wants to be stuck with a soon-to-be 34-year-old center on a massive deal. Gasol doesn't hold as much value as he did a few years ago with the league trending more and more toward switchable guards and wings.
Conley has a full two years and $67 million left on his contract. However, Conley is three years younger than Gasol and playing at an All-Star level (even if he doesn't make the trip to Charlotte next month). The Magic, Mavericks, Pacers and Pistons could all be searching for a point guard, and Conley will likely be a better option than any free agents at the position.
(It's also worth noting that the Grizzlies are still trying to trade Chandler Parsons, who hasn't played for the team despite being medically cleared. He's due more than $25 million for the 2019-20 season. Good luck finding a deal.)
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Memphis should be targeting draft picks, young prospects and other players who fit around Jackson. The front office must be willing to eat bad contracts, though, because Conley and Gasol don't give the Grizzlies the kind of leverage to ask suitors for anthing and everything. That shouldn't be a problem — realistically, the Grizzlies aren't going to snag a major free agent.
Following that kind of strategy could be the best play for a small-market club and give the Grizz more shots in the draft. Memphis owes the Celtics its first-rounder unless it falls within the top eight (top six protected for 2020 and unprotected for 2021), so replenishing the picks cupboard should be a top priority.
A full rebuild could also trickle down to J.B. Bickerstaff and the coaching staff. The Grizzlies could decide they need changes across the board, and Bickerstaff's 34-76 record as head coach doesn't help his argument to stay. His relationship with Jackson could dictate the direction they choose to go.
Conley and Gasol are Memphis icons. The greatest stretch in franchise history came with those two leading the way with seven straight trips to the postseason from 2011 to 2017. There is a justified fear about what losing Conley and Gasol will mean not only for on-court success, but also the dedication of the Grizz fan base.
Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, they are already bad with those guys on the team, and attendance isn't high at FedEx Forum. It's time for the Grizz to find a new way to grind.
