Addressing the trade of veteran center Steven Adams, who was sent to Houston for Victor Oladipo and three second-round picks, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins cited “flexibility” as a key reason for making the deal, writes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
“Big-time thanks to (Adams),” Jenkins said. “Opportunities come throughout the league. We got to make some decisions. Obviously we’re excited about the flexibility it creates for us. … The impact (Adams) made was a big one for us. Obviously we’re going to miss him. Hopefully he gets healthy. He’s been working really hard in his rehab. He had a huge impact not just on the floor, but also in the locker room.”
As Jenkins alluded to, Adams is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery, though he’s expected to make a full recovery prior to 2024/25.
It will be difficult to find a long-term replacement for Adams’ unique skill set (bruising screener, elite offensive rebounder, solid passer). According to Cole, Jenkins said playing Jaren Jackson Jr. more at center is one option for Memphis going forward, but the team will look at “different avenues” as well.
Here’s more on the Grizzlies:
- Fourth-year guard Desmond Bane has been out about three weeks with a severe left ankle sprain and is expected to miss at least three more. On Thursday, Jenkins said Bane has been doing individual on-court work and movement shooting. “He’s hungry to get back and beat the timeline,” Jenkins said, per Cole (Twitter link).
- While the Grizzlies have had a “wild, wayward” season thus far, one bright spot has been the play of second-year wing Vince Williams, according to Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian (subscriber link). A 2022 second-round pick (47th overall) who was on a two-way deal with Memphis before being promoted to a standard contract, Williams has been an “unlikely revelation” in 2023/24, Herrington writes. The 23-year-old only played 105 minutes in 15 games last season, but has been thrust into a major role due to the team’s lengthy injury list. In 12 January games (32.7 MPG), he played exceptionally well, averaging 14.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.3 APG and 1.3 SPG on .509/.469/.780 shooting.
- Memphis announced in a press release that it will retire Marc Gasol‘s No. 33 jersey on April 6, following a game vs. Philadelphia. Gasol, a three-time All-Star for the Grizzlies and the 2012/13 Defensive Player of the Year, recently retired as a player. He spent more than 10 seasons with Memphis and holds numerous team records. Gasol’s former teammate, Zach Randolph, is the only other player to have his jersey retired by the Grizzlies.
- Veteran point guard Derrick Rose returned to action on Friday after missing the past month with a left hamstring strain, Cole tweets. Rose finished with 12 points and four assists in 16 minutes in Friday’s loss to Golden State.
Would love to see drose on a contender while he still has a little juice left.
that’s the thing. all the juice has been squeezed.
Disagree, nights like last night showed rose still has plenty left as a third string guard who can play primary backup for bursts.
gonna be injured at least two more times before seasons end.
Boston should look into getting him, as their bench is pretty bad. He might add some spark to a team that is currently sleep walking.
Memphis has no clue what they are doing. Adam’s was key to their success, JJJ can’t man the 5.
Lineups with Adam’s in there almost a 10 point differential.
Yes so true Adams was the reason Ja had space to play.
I tend to agree, and would like to have seen if Adams would’ve changed the outcome in last years playoffs. However, the next time he plays he’ll be 31 with only 1 year left on his contract. Getting 3 2nds for that is pretty good, considering Poeltl netted a 1st and 2 2nds last year. I’d say Poeltl at 2 years younger (3 years at the time of each respective trade) is better defensively and offensively than Adams, but doesn’t rebound nearly as well.
They definitely need to get 2 centers in the offseason. One from the draft and another from FA/trade like Drummond, Hartenstein (who I was wanting them to sign last time he was a FA), WCJr, or someone similar.
I always got Keith Askins & Vincent Askew confused but Vince Williams is like those guys, long/efficient/tough… sorta crazy that Houston gave up 3 2nds for 1yr of past prime Steven Adams
I always remember them easily Askins was a defensive player for the Heat. Askew was a Sonic both worked their way up to play. I always switch up Chet Walker and Jimmy Walker