#22 - Memphis Grizzlies

Spruce Derden – USA TODAY Sports

What I’d Do:

P.J. Hairston – North Carolina/ Texas Legends (D-League)

6’5” (6’9” wingspan), 229 lbs., 12/24/1992 (21 years old)

It seems like every season since breaking up the OJ Mayo/Rudy Gay wing-duo, the Memphis Grizzlies have needed perimeter shooting. While their record dropped six games from the previous season, their 2014 team may have been more complete than during the deep 2013 playoff run, with actual contributions from a couple of wing options.


The Grizzlies have been almost desperate in looking for shooters who can spread the floor, especially after losing Quincy Pondexter to injury early this season. Tony Allen was re-signed last summer and is the starter at the 2-guard who sets the tone with his toughness and crazy energy on the defensive end (or is it “crazy and energy”?). He’s quite limited on the offensive-side, though, never developing a consistent jumper (although he’s okay from the FT line) but is effective as a secondary-ball handler in transition. His handle is inconsistent and he can be turnover prone but he’s one of the handful of impact wing-defenders in the league.

The desperation for shooting was evident last offseason in the signing of the amnestied-Mike Miller, which actually paid off really well. Miller had spent much of the previous three seasons in Miami alternating between missing games with injury and hitting huge baskets for a two-time title team, but played a full 82-games in Memphis and shot 45.9% from 3 (4.9 attempts per game). He only started four games, as the Grizz went with the defensive-minded Tayshaun Prince as their starting small forward, but contributed all season in his 20.8 minutes off the bench. Mike Miller was one of the examples of desperation sometimes being a good thing.

The flip-side of the desperation was taking back Prince in the Rudy Gay trade to Toronto in the 2012-13 season. The Grizz preferred to avoid Gay’s $19 million option in 2014-15 (that he just picked up in Sacramento) by acquiring Prince’s cheaper deal over the same amount of years. He’s started almost every game at the SF since landing in Memphis and still uses his long-arms and instincts to play some defense and rebound, but his career hasn’t been the same since 2011, really.

In the 2010-11 season Tayshaun averaged 14.1 points, 4.2 boards, 2.8 assists and 1.1 turnovers per game on 47.3/34.7/70.2 percentages. From 2011-12 till the end of this season he’s been at 9.5 points, 4.0 boards, 2.1 dimes, and 0.9 turnovers at 42.4/35.6/71.8. I’ll spare you his 2014 numbers. His rookie season with the championship Pistons was a long time ago, as his athleticism, quickness, and jump shot have all declined over his 11-year career. Opposing teams no longer need to guard him on the perimeter, making the Conley/Allen/Prince/ZBo/Marc starting lineup almost unplayable because of the spacing issues from the wings.

While the Grizz were struggling early in the season without Marc Gasol and while starting Tony and Tayshaun together, the front office traded backup Jerryd Bayless and a couple of second round picks for Courtney Lee, who went on to start 47 of his 49 games as a Grizzly. Lee’s “2.5-and-D” game was wasted in Boston’s rebuild, where he struggled in adjusting initially, but he posted career-highs in FG% with both teams this season. He’s signed for the next two at a little more than $11 million and should continue to form a nice semi-platoon at the 2-guard with Tony, for a combined $10 over the next two years. While most teams were wary of adding salary in-season, Memphis needed shooting and adding Lee worked out.

I was going to write another full paragraph on James Johnson and his acquisition in December and offensive contributions in January and February, but he’s a free agent and played only a single minute in the last three regular season games with Memphis. The domestic assault charge seems to make his return to the team questionable and should affect his offers in free agency.

Out of the five contributors to the wing spots for the Grizzlies in 2013-14, only Allen, Lee, and Prince are on the books next season. Mike Miller took the veteran’s minimum, after receiving the rest of his Miami contract under the amnesty provision, to return to Memphis but showed he could play a full season and could leverage that into one last payday on a short-term contract. Memphis is within $10 million of the luxury tax and could give Miller a raise on a one-year deal.

Tayshaun Prince has one more year left and I wonder how many games he’ll start this season.

The shooting guard rotation is set with Lee and Allen, leaving the small forward spot as a need to address in the draft at #24 and maybe in free agency with the mid-level exception (probably the mini). If Quincy Pondexter is showing progress in his rehab from a stress fracture surgery on his foot then that could alleviate some of the need at the position, but after drafting a non-shooter in Jamaal Franklin last summer, a young shooter from the wing remains a need, I think.

Point guard could also present a need, with Beno Udrih a free agent and Nick Calathes still facing a drug suspension from the league. Calathes played well as a back-up point in his first year in the NBA but is signed for under a million dollars next season. As a skilled player with dual-citizenship in the US and Greece he could be an intriguing option for many European teams, who carry roster limits that restrict the number of foreign players. His low NBA salary and looming suspension could make him amenable to a jump back to the Euroleague, leaving the Grizz with only Mike Conley under contract.

I think Memphis and head coach Dave Joerger would prefer to bring back Beno Udrih or target another veteran point guard with the mini mid-level exception. Assuming Calathes stays in the league, Joerger would especially need a PG to back up Mike Conley while Calathes serves his suspension (20 games rendered a day before the season ended), and it’s doubtful if a PG here (Shabazz Napier, Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Anderson?) can step into his rotation that early. A third point guard would be a nice long-term project but think they can get a good shooter here at #22.

P.J. Hairston scored points in bunches in his short-season in the NBA Developmental League. He’s a natural shooter and a big, strong wing player, weighing 229 lbs. It helps that I wrote him up earlier but P.J. reminds me of a right-handed James Young in that he loves the 3 ball, especially those of the transition-variety, and uses his strength in his straight-line drives to the paint. Neither are very effective in seeing the court or using the pick and roll yet and prefer to score in spot-up or pull-up situations. Young is longer but Hairston is more agile and can get his shot in more ways. He can use picks with or without the ball and has a better handle that enables him to shoot off the bounce. Hairston might be a more natural SG but is long-enough (6’9” wingspan) to pressure the passing lanes and get out in transition.

Hairston is going to have to adjust to wing defense at the next level and learn NBA rotations. His effort level and work ethic wanes, particularly on D, and he won’t see much playing time under Dave Joerger without improving in those areas. He had his issues at UNC that led to his dismissal from the team and his character stuff will be thoroughly checked out by NBA teams. Hairston’s also not a great leaper and isn’t the quickest with the first step, but has the length to still throw it down.

I think P.J. Hairston comes with some risk, with the effort and discipline issues a legitimate concern. This Memphis Grizzlies team has a solid locker room and team culture, seemingly-led by Tony Allen and Mike Conley. There are a couple of guys on the roster that have had the “knucklehead” labels early in their careers, from TA to ZBo to Kosta Koufos (kidding!). Going against TA and Courtney Lee every day could be a great learning experience for a young gunner and at a certain point Memphis has to take the chance on talent and hope their team leadership can help in the adjustment. Hairston has been living and playing among professionals since January, dealing with the travelling and back-to-backs that come with the pro game, and should have an easier adjustment than the average rookie.

Shabazz Napier is the other option here and could maybe run Joerger’s bench offense for stretches while Calathes is out. He’s a dynamic shot creator and maker, especially in isolations, with a strong jumper and clutch pedigree as a National Champion and Most Outstanding Player for UConn. I think Memphis prefers a veteran at the backup point guard and a more pass-first player to run the offense, though. Shabazz is a better scorer and combo-guard but could see Joerger trusting a more limited and safer player like Beno.

P.J. Hairston is one of the more NBA-ready prospects in the draft but he’ll struggle at first in adjusting to advanced NBA defenses and with his shot selection. His offense and ability to get buckets is too advanced for the D-League, as he’s already shown, and should be expected to develop and fight for minutes at the NBA level. I like his pro prospects, as he knows what to expect at the next level (conditioning, emphasis on 3’s, travel) and this could be a huge summer as he processes his experiences in the D-League and continues developing his game. Memphis needs young talent and has nobody on the roster with the offensive-upside of Hairston. Napier might make it a conversation but I think Chris Wallace and John Hollinger would be thrilled to have P.J.’s jump shot available at #22.

What I Think They’ll Do:

Memphis is a veteran-laden team that really doesn’t have any young prospects. Jamaal Franklin was the first round pick last year and spent some time in the D-League but profiles as a Tony Allen-type of player (defender at the guard spot, limited offense). He could either get minutes this season off the deep-bench or get traded for a second round pick like Tony Wroten.

P.J. Hairston isn’t a particularly raw prospect and I’m not sure if Memphis would have the patience to wait on one anyways. He’ll come in and score with the second unit, and there’s enough discipline and culture in place to smack him around if he takes bad shots. Shabazz Napier and maybe Kyle Anderson could add to the depth but Hairston has the highest upside and can potentially solve Memphis’s shooting situation.

Crazy Draft Day Trade:

This is probably the least-likely team to work out a trade that I’ve written up. Memphis could use cheap pieces, especially young ones, and has room (and maybe shots) on the bench for a rookie to step in. There isn’t much on the roster to use to trade up, as Wallace and Hollinger will have to deal with Randolph’s player option drama and Ed Davis’s restricted free agency.

I guess there’s a chance owner Robert Pera makes a crazy move and blows something up but I’m not sure how much the #22 pick factors into that possibility. They’ll keep the pick and add a rookie contract to their rotation.