NBA Free Agency 2018: One signing every team should make

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Memphis Grizzlies — Wayne Ellington

Despite drafting Jaren Jackson Jr. near the top of the 2018 draft, the Grizzlies are not likely to bottom out this upcoming season. With Marc Gasol and Mike Conley expected to be healthy again, and still under contract, there’s reason to think that Memphis could compete for a playoff spot again this season as long they stay healthy. Maybe that changes once the season starts, but for now, the Grizzlies are likely operating like a team that wants to win right now. Robert Pera, the team’s owner, certainly has that mindset.

Chandler Parsons’ contract is the main reason why Memphis over the salary cap, but even if his $24 million was off the books, they’d still be over the cap. That means the most they can offer is the mid-level exception, worth $8.568 million, and smaller contracts. Some of that is likely to go towards getting a serviceable backup big man and some wing depth. One good option: Wayne Ellington.

Ellington doesn’t offer much more than shooting at this point, but he at least works on defense and plays within himself. Where he to sign with Memphis, he’d provide spacing next to Conley and around Gasol. It’s something Memphis doesn’t currently have much of and needs to create for everything else on the roster. If Parsons can’t play at all or play consistently, Ellington would make up for at least some of the spacing Parsons is supposed to provide.

Maybe he sticks around in Miami where he’s had a productive few seasons, but some of the MLE, maybe the Grizzlies could nab Ellington.

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