NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason needs for the Memphis Grizzlies
By John Buhler
3. Turn Tony Allen into a cyborg that runs on pepper…or just bring all the old dudes back
Let’s be real. The Grizzlies will be the Grit N’ Grind Grizzlies as long as their defensive floor general is in Memphis. He’s not highly skilled offensively, nor is he on the good side of 30. That being said, Memphis shooting guard Tony Allen is everything for the Grizzlies.
He is The Grindfather. Allen may have gotten hurt down the stretch, but we can rebuild him and we have the technology. Basically, Memphis needs to use all the science in the world to turn Allen into a cyborg that runs on pepper so he can play lights-out defense out on the wing.
On a serious note, it may not be a bad play for the Grizzlies to bring back all of their popular aging veterans. With nicknames like The Grindfather, Vinsanity, and Z-Bo, it’s not like NBA nicknames this spectacular just randomly come to us. Allen, small forward Vince Carter and power forward Zach Randolph should come back to Memphis for one last shot at whatever it is they do on the basketball court.
Memphis isn’t a NBA title contender, but the Grizzlies are beloved locally and their on-court attitude semi-resonates nationally. When is the next time Memphis will have a team so intrinsically unique and this culturally significant?
Money is going to be tighter than in years past due to the Conley, Gasol and Parsons extensions. Not to say that these popular veterans need to come back and play for the league minimum to lose in the first round for Memphis, but this is a team we aren’t ready to see break up.
Memphis needs more statues anyway. Elvis will be in good company here pretty soon. For now have some pretty, pretty, pretty good living relics literally Walking in Memphis.