The fans of the Memphis Grizzlies probably should be full of optimism going into the 2010-11 NBA season.  Not only is one of the NBA’s most effective starting line-ups back in the fold for the Grizzlies, two playoff teams, Phoenix and Utah, lost key players.  Even if some fans are disappointed with the likely loss of guard Ronnie Brewer, the team really was not able to utilize Brewer on the court so nothing really missing from last year’s team.  The Grizzlies have four starters who are young enough to expect improvement with experience and maturity, and a fifth, Zach Randolph, who will be playing a new contract. Next year should be the most highly anticipated Memphis Grizzlies season since the first year of FedExForum in 2004.  So why is the buzz drowned out by the belly aches caused by dread?

Rudy Gay was re-signed for near max money. Ronnie Brewer was not offered.  Lebron James did not chose Memphis.  Xavier Henry is not Patrick Patterson, Paul George, or Damion James.  The Grizzlies sold the 25th pick for $3 million.  Is it the always nature of my hometown to be so critical? The Grizzlies won 40 games last year when the over/under number of wins was 28 with Las Vegas bookmakers!  How about some excitement!

I will start right now with the concerns some have that the Grizzlies will not be able to re-sign the key starters on the team.  Now that Rudy Gay has signed his big deal, people assume the Grizzlies have blown every dollar on him.  While the Grizzlies will have a huge payroll (for them anyway) next year, there will be massive relief in payroll after next year.  Marko Jaric officially comes off the books after next season.  The amount of money Jaric counts is about $7 million.  If people are worry about money for Marc Gasol, why not think that if the Grizzlies just took Jaric’s $7 million and added the money to Gasol to create a deal starting at $10 million for Gasol.  Marc Gasol may be re-signed for a more reasonable amount, but at the very least there is room to re-sign him.  Zach Randolph is an all-star, but he is greatly overpaid.  As good as Randolph is, would he be attractive to other teams for a large investment?  If Randolph is not attractive, why would Randolph leave the Grizzlies?  If the Grizzlies gave Randolph a reasonable offer and Randolph’s deferred money from his current provides him with another income stream for the several years, does the financial situation look less dire.  So the $25 million that Randolph, Jaric, and Gasol in 2010 could become $20 million for Randolph and Gasol in 2011.  

There is a great deal of time between now and having to pay Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Mike Conley.  Therefore I think it would be wise to sit back and enjoy what could be the most exciting Grizzlies season ever.

ML