Alright let’s get straight into it. Today’s big project was trying to figure out this whole Memphis Grizzlies salary cap puzzle, see if I could sketch a simple path forward for them. Felt like trying to untangle Christmas lights last January.
Starting Point: The Hot Mess
First thing I did was grab the real NBA salary data. Okay, Memphis has some serious money locked up in just a few guys. Ja Morant’s bag is huge, Jaren Jackson Jr. ain’t cheap either. Then you got Smart, Bane… adds up crazy fast. Felt like trying to stuff too much laundry in one bag. Just wouldn’t zip.
Step 1: Spreadsheet Deep Dive
Cracked open the laptop, fired up my clunky old spreadsheet software. Started plugging in all the numbers: every salary, every year remaining. Got my highlighters out, man. Green for “keepers,” yellow for “maybe,” and a whole lotta red ink. That Adams contract? Oof. Ziaire Williams? Not looking great. Felt like my phone battery life – disappearing way too fast.
The Hard Part: Cutting Losses
Next step was the brutal one. Who’s gotta go? Started looking hard at contracts dragging the team down. Steven Adams – solid dude, big injury history, big dollars. Made him trade target number one. Then Ziaire Williams… young, but hasn’t clicked. Labeled him “Trade or Decline Option.” Just too much dead weight holding back the cash flow. It was like cleaning out a cluttered garage – gotta get rid of stuff to make space.
The Trade Wall
Got ambitious. Tried figuring out trades for these guys. Looked at teams maybe needing a steady center (despite the injuries), or someone gambling on young talent. But man, finding partners willing to take on those contracts without dumping their bad deals back on me? Like pulling teeth. Nobody wants to help you clean your garage unless you take their old paint cans too. Hit a wall hard.
Shifting Gears: The Kids Are Alright (Maybe)
Okay, trades stalled. Fine. Changed focus. Looked at all the cheap young talent on the roster: GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., Santi Aldama, Jake LaRavia, Kenneth Lofton Jr., David Roddy. Saw potential. Wrote down a big ol’ list: DEVELOP THESE KIDS. Stop chasing expensive bandaids and see what you’ve got growing in the backyard. Cheaper, and might actually bloom.
The Simple Plan:
- Priority One: Dump Bad Contracts. Adams, Ziaire, Luke Kennard… gotta find exits, even if it hurts a little. Clear the decks.
- Priority Two: Bet On Cheap Youth. Play the young guys! Give them real minutes, not garbage time. See who actually belongs.
- Priority Three: Smart Moves, Not Flashy Ones. Use the cap space you free up for ONE high-impact piece later, not a bunch of mediocre ones now. Wait for the right fish, don’t just grab every minnow.
The Lightbulb Moment
Spent hours staring at these numbers. Then it kinda clicked. Rebuilding ain’t about overnight fixes. It’s about ripping off the band-aids (even if they’re stuck on with superglue), focusing hard on the young guys you drafted for a reason, and being super patient with the big spending. Don’t panic and waste your hard-earned cap space on the first shiny thing walking by. Build with what you have, spend smart later.
Felt good to map it out, step by painful step. Shows you even a messy cap sheet has a path forward, if you’re willing to make the tough calls and play the long game. Always doable!
