Veteran center tabbed as ‘answer’ to Grizzlies center rotation

The Memphis Grizzlies are looking to redeem themselves next season after a dismal 2023-24 campaign that saw numerous key player absences, a historical number different lineups and injuries galore.

With players like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all expected to be at full strength and will be joined by up-and-coming stars like GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., and several other impressive contributors, the odds of a rebound happening in Grind City are pretty high.

That said, even with these positives and positive stories, there are still several areas of concern when it comes to Taylor Jenkins’ club, and for Raptor’s Josh Cornelissen, one of their biggest question marks lies at the center position.

After Steven Adams left last season and was traded to the Houston Rockets in early February, the Grizzlies had a center vacancy that desperately needed filling ahead of 2024-25.

That’s why general manager Zach Kleiman opted to use the franchise’s ninth overall pick in the last NBA draft on Purdue juggernaut Zach Edey, who, with his back-to-back AP Player of the Year awards, his high-end shooting and board-gobbling skills, and his monstrous 7-foot-4, 300-pound frame, appears to be an optimal long-term prospect to occupy the middle for years to come.

Of course, this team is looking to reestablish itself as a legitimate title threat this upcoming season, which in turn puts a lot of pressure on the rookie project to make an immediate impact.

Although the eye test of his college career and Summer League play suggests he should be a perfect pivot for this core, in case Edey is not able to become this franchise five in one year Cornelissen suggests The Grizzlies should have an established presence at the position before the season begins, and have viewed Raptors veteran Jakob Poeltl as an ideal target.

Heading into his ninth season in the conference, Poeltl, 28, has the kind of experience any title-hungry team could use. Unfortunately for him, he’s stuck on a Raptors roster that’s currently undergoing a major restructuring and growth.

While there’s no indication at this point that Toronto is even open to parting ways with the veteran center, Cornelissen isn’t convinced he’s a guarantee to stay in the Great White North long-term, and if he does end up being traded, the Grizzlies could benefit greatly from his addition.

“Adding Poeltl would make the Grizzlies extremely expensive going forward, but it would also give them a fierce defensive base with Poeltl playing alongside recent Defensive Player of the Year winners Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart. Jackson’s shooting alleviates some of the challenges building around Poeltl on offense, and his screen setting and running around the basket should fit in well,” Cornelissen wrote.

While not a star by any means, Poeltl has established himself throughout his professional career as an incredibly sturdy force at center, capable of defending the paint, grabbing rebounds and working the post on offense.

Last year, the big man finished his campaign with solid per-game averages of 11.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks while shooting 65.6 percent from the field.

That type of production, combined with his enviable 7-foot, 229-pound frame, makes for a very strong argument that had the Grizzlies not selected Edey ninth overall and instead gone in a completely different direction positionally, Poeltl could very well have been a realistic and reliable option to serve as the club’s starting five.

With that logic, the idea of ​​bringing him in as a proven, reliable backup to replace the rookie for a few minutes at a time each night could easily be considered an ideal scenario.

Of course, in the hypothetical scenario where Memphis were to make a deal for Poeltl, they would have to find a way to shed enough money in the trade to make room for his $19.5 million salary for the upcoming year, as they are already on pace to exceed the luxury tax as it stands.

However, if they were to find a way to make the numbers work, the veteran would be one of the most ideal options to bolster their central depth, and, in Cornelissen’s eyes, he could realistically prove to be “the answer they need.”