Memphis Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace has confirmed what David Fizdale’s firing suggested all along: His team has no imminent plans to trade Mike Conley and/or Marc Gasol and cannonball into a rebuild.
As Wallace explained on Wednesday, per ESPN.com’s Tim MacMahon:
Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace won’t consider rebuilding by trading stars Marc Gasol or Mike Conley: “We’re bringing a number of young guys along, and we think we have two guys that are big-timers and we think are going to be big-timers for years to come. So why back off of that?”
This stance became pretty clear the moment the Grizzlies elected to can Fizdale less than a season-and-a-half into his time on the sidelines. The team was struggling (2-11 over its past 13 at the time), yes. But Fizdale was also on rocky terms with Gasol. Even if Big Spain didn’t have a say in the coach’s departure, as he maintains, his relationship with him definitely factors into this decision.
And as a front office, you don’t make the call to fire a relatively new head coach for the sake of one or both of your stars, and then go trade those stars.
Maybe the Grizzlies are forced to soften their stance on this matter later in the season. They are 2-12 over their last 14 games following Wednesday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs, and their playoff hopes are fading fast. They’re incredibly banged up, with Conley, Mario Chalmers, Chandler Parsons, Wayne Selden and Brandan Wright all currently on the shelf—which matters. They might be able to make a run at full strength, particularly if their house gets in order before the Los Angeles Clippers or Utah Jazz are a semblance of healthy. But the Western Conference is unforgiving, and by the time Conley returns, it could be too late for the Grizzlies to right their win-loss wrongs.
What they would do at that point is anyone’s guess. Wallace’s words suggest they’ll see this season through no matter what. But if a lottery berth is staring them right in the face, and time isn’t on their side, it might coax them into some unanticipated action.
