Memphis Grizzlies 2025 Offseason Recap
Yo, what’s going on, guys? And today, of course, we’ll be doing our Memphis Grizzlies offseason recap. If this is the first time you’ve ever watched one of these or might be just listening to it as background noise. Now, what we will be doing today is recapping every move that the Memphis Grizzlies have made this off season from departures, additions via free agency, trade or the draft, and every move in between. So, Tomas Isalo is entering his first year as full-time head coach. He took over, as you guys remember, right before the playoffs. There was like what, like 10 games or so. I was actually fortunate enough to speak to Tomasalo a few games after or a game or two after he had became become the head coach due to the fact that I you know are is I am fortunate enough even though I can speak right there I am fortunate enough to have been granted credentials to cover the Miami Heat and I tend to go to both conferences pre and postgame for both teams the home and away as I cover the NBA more broadly. So speaking to Tomaso, hearing his philosophy of the game of this year, I think the offense is going to look drastically different than it had in previous years due to the fact that as we drop my remote one second, ladies and gentlemen. So one of the big moves that happened as I apologize for that little fumble. The biggest move or the one that stirred the big headlines, Desmond Bane for four first round picks, Cole Anthony and Contavius Codwell Pope. And then they went out got themselves Cedric Coward. They already had our man Jaylen Wells from last year. So they’re going to replace Desmond Ba Desmond Bane and his contract with a committee approach which I actually like. You got Yes, Contavia Cowell Pope had a down year for his standard. He’s still a guy who’s healthy and he had a really rough playoffs, but you’re hoping that if he can rebound, yes, he might be on an overinflated contract, but if he can play like 20 minutes a night, Jaylen Wells can play 20 minutes a night, Cedric Coward can at least play 15 minutes a night, and they all can be above league average three-point shooters, maybe somewhere between 36 and 40%. While Cedric Cower being 6’5, and I know he’s coming off of a torn labum and a partially torn rotator cuff in, I believe his left arm that, you know, I asked him to explain what had gone on. They brought in Javon Small as a backup point guard who can pass and shoot well from three and Jamai Masjack who I got to see at Portsmith or J at Portsmith another really good you know swingman defensive guy Cedric Cow’s got a 7 foot wingspan he has a little bit of a below the rim player but he’s a fantastic defender so I actually like the idea of a Jaylen Wells Kavis Cowwell Pope and Cedric Coward threeman committee at the swingman position the shooting guard small forward wing position right there I think that was a good pickup and then Javon Small and J Mshak, right? Or Mash Mach. Yeah, right. Or Mashak. Someone tell me if I’m saying that correctly. I literally saw him at Portsmith and I’ve like talked to him. Great player, great, you know, standout guy. Now, the current projected lineup as of right now. And Sedic Coward actually didn’t play during the summer league due to the still recovering from the injury. He told me he was cleared, but clearly he was cleared probably to start training and working out, but not cleared to play. to the current lineup of John Moran, Contavius Cowell, Pope, KCPK, Jaylen Wells, Jiren Jackson Jr., Zack Edy, Ty Jerome is someone that they brought in free agency, Scotty Pippen. I like that kind of like that duo right there. Vince Williams a great, you know, diamond in the rough that they found defensive guy. They brought back Santiama who I still think is going to be able to take another leap and especially with Jiren Jackson Jr. and Zachi recover from injury. We’re going to see that they kept Brandon Clark who’s, you know, gonna be a full year removed from that Achilles injury. They brought in Jack Landell who I think is a solid reserve big man. They have Lawson Lovering on a exhibit contract that I think him and J are going to compete for the last two-way spot. Coward, John Kchar, Cam Spencer was restructured on a new deal. Gi Jackson all make up, you know, the last 10 through 15. So there’s a lot of three-point shooting. There’s a lot of size here. So what are your thoughts on this lineup so far, guys? So, one thing I want to say, Lawson Lovering is actually the guy he played with Brandon Carlson, but a very similar Brandon Carlson, like 3 and D big shot blocking guy out of the University of Utah. I expect him to probably be on the G-League team for them as PJ Hall, a Swiss Army knife, a little bit of an underside, like six foot 10, six foot n passing, floor spacing, 10 block shots, score, you know, has kind of a bag who played on a two-way last year for the Nuggets. Filled their second two-way. This year, second round pick, Javon Small took one of them. So, D and probably Lawson are going to compete for that final one. I’m going to go with D, who they drafted, probably taking it. And yeah, I think this is a really, if you just look at it, basically, look, John Contour and Jo Landell are probably going to be their end of the bench guys. I really think Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen, depending on where Cedric Coward is healthwise and Cam Spencer are all going to be duking it out for the minutes behind John Morant and Contavius Cowell Pope. While Contavius Cowell Pope, Jaylen Wells, I think you can throw John Conark, Cam Spencer can play a little bit up. Cedric Coward and Vince Williams. I mean they also had Santi play three. Some minutes at the three all will also play minutes at the three because contempl are guys who can play the two or three. Same thing with John Contrer I would say. Han Spencer maybe a little bit. He’s a little small like 6’4 but he can he’s tough enough. Sadi Dama plays literally the small forward power forward and center position. Brandon Clark’s kind of their more of a big now after the Achilles injury but he’s a scoring big. I wonder if they’re all going to make a move here as their top salaries being John Moran, Jiren Jackson Jr., Kante Cow Pope, Santiago, Brandon Clark, and Zack Edi. And to me, I think everyone sits here and thinks that if there was going to be someone moved that it might be a Brandon Clark or a if I had to assume like it’s the first one, I’m going Brandon Clark and then it’s John Kar as the two. If you were able to move there, that’s almost $20 million in salary. Now, this team included the dead money of $171.5 million. They have $4.1 million in dead money and their tax line is $29.4 million below it. So, that’s huge that they’re at a situation where they’re below the tax line. The apron total, so the first apron, they’re $37 million below it and they’re $48 million below the second apron. So, for a team that has their main players locked up, they’re at a good position. However, they don’t have any bannual exceptions or mid-level exceptions. Those are all used up. They don’t have cap holes. And we mentioned two of their two ways have been filled. So, what Zack Kleimman did here, their general manager, was salary cap gymnastics. He rebalanced the books. He got himself four first round picks and he gave this team flexibility, not just from a roster standpoint, but also from a cap standpoint, which is huge. Is what what you need to do. Memphis sets or Memphis sits well below the aprons. Okay, they aren’t going to be thinking about, oh, we need to make a move to get below the apron. Oh, we need to do this. And I mentioned all earlier that Brandon Clark and John Carter could be two guys that they move. All right, that is possible if they wanted to trade for maybe a bigger salary and they could eat some of that salary or if if they wanted to get themselves into a position in the off season. Obviously, I believe John Contra isn’t expiring, but either way, I think they positioned themselves very well to make an inseason move. If a player that could become a third or second fiddle to make a big three of a Jiren Jackson Jr. and a John Morant into a reality, that could be well positioned. They also use Contavius Cowell Pope’s contract in there, too. The whole thing I’m getting at is that they have stackable contracts. They have the cap space and the ability to either make a move that allow them to get more depth or to make a move to get a good player to be their second or third fiddle to join John Morant and Jiren Jackson Jr. Obviously it’ probably be a wing. Seems like they’re invested in Zack Edi and the front court help that they have there. And with Contavius Cwell Pope Jaylen Well, Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward all fitting the two-way style that compliments John Morant and Jiren Jackson Jr. they’ve added young players and rookies and other role players at inexpensive contracts. And I think yes, the biggest questions here with Zack Edi, Santi Alama, of course, Jacques Landell, Jiren Jackson Jr., this team is obviously Ed’s coming back from that ankle injury or surgery. His development, his health, as well as his Brandon Clark’s health are all pivotal as this team is probably figuring out that center rotation. Is it good enough? Is it going to be able to push him over to the hedge? And I think if there’s a center that becomes available, maybe a Yak Purle, could they be a team that’s interested in that? I wouldn’t be surprised if they are and they’ve set themselves up a by prioritizing assets and the optionality instead of going out and spending money. They’re able to go ahead and have the ability to seek a big fish finally if they need to, especially that they have all those assets. They got Cedric Coward at 11. Yeah, it’s might be a bet, but I think a 6’5 guy with seven foot wingspan who is a 40% shooter who’s an incredible personality and just seems like he’s really well. While they take swings on small mesh to round out the backourt depth is solid. While they have caps flexibility, they reshape the roster. The front office is able to pounce at any trade or buy low starter that emerges in the trade market this upcoming season near the deadline due to the assets that they have and the contract. So, they can just stack that up. And yeah, so that’s basically everything I have right here. If you guys made it to the end of the video, I really do appreciate it. That’s basically going to be my thoughts on what I think is kind of necessary if we’re going to go ahead and talk about the Memphis Grizzlies. So, that’s my takeaways. I hope you guys did enjoy. If you made it to the end of the video, you should hit that like and subscribe button. It help out the channel a ton as it seems that you enjoy this type of content. Till next, till next time, guys. Cheers.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ 2025 offseason is in the books. From roster moves to contract updates and potential future signings, Cyro Asseo breaks down everything you need to know about Memphis’ summer. What does this mean for Ja Morant and the Grizzlies’ path back to contention?
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