2016 NBA Free Agency: 1 move every team needs to make to be contenders

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies have problems. They completely imploded after a foot injury benched Marc Gasol for the rest of the season. Their head coach, Dave Joerger, managed to keep his team in the playoffs with spare parts (Chris Anderson and Lance Stevenson) but exited in the offseason for Sacramento. Now, Mike Conley, who had previously planned to stay in Memphis, has to consider he’s on a sinking ship and might need to find a banana boat of some sort to a better team.

In one scenario, Memphis could be just fine. Gasol could rehab his foot and Conley could return to build a new team on that duo that likely could stay in the playoff hunt. Or Gasol could have lingering foot problems and close their championship window for the season, or longer (see Derrick Rose and Chicago Bulls).

And what else do the Grizzlies have on the roster for their future? Zach Randolph is past his prime and in the last year of his contract. Gasol is now 31. Tony Allen and Vince Carter are in contract years as well, both older than Gasol. The Grizzles managed to acquire a few players younger players, but no one that is ready to play with Conley. Their best move to try and keep Conley and compete this season is to bring in another max player. They’ve got just enough cap space to sign a player before bringing back Conley.

Grizzlies should try to sign Chandler Parsons. He’s a small forward that would be able to take over for the aging Allen and Carter. He’s had injury troubles but fits the win-now timeline with Gasol and Conley and provides perimeter shooting and offense that they’ve been missing.

Next: Miami Heat