Rumour: The Memphis Grizzlies Are Looking To Relocate. Is Robert Pera Making A Mistake?

In the summer of 2019, general manager Robert Pera addressed that he would be interested in relocating the Memphis Grizzlies. With Memphis being a low market team, it makes sense that an owner would want to relocate or sell the team, but the timing is rather unfortunate. The Grizzlies currently have one of the best young cores in the NBA, as they have a foundation of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Even though Memphis is a small market team today, they will be a dynasty for many years to come and receive the respect and popularity they desperately need. However, if the general manager has already emphasized that he is interested in relocating the team, the chances are that the process of relocating the Memphis Grizzlies has already begun. 

In the last decade, Memphis has been a fairly consistent organization while exhibiting a grit and grind playstyle. During the Marc Gasol days, Memphis was a knockout and had rivalries against teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, to name a few. The Grizzlies were determined to popularize and express grit and grind playing style and, thus, made it to the conference finals in 2013, where the San Antonio Spurs would sweep them. For a team to be known as one of the lower markets in the NBA, the Grizzlies had a great run and could have made it to the finals if they signed a star player in free agency. However, when an organization is cursed of being regarded as a low market team, the chances of signing a star free-agent is close to impossible simply because would you rather play in Los Angeles or Memphis? This principle of playing for a high market organization has caused so many superstars to not win a championship simply because of their aspirations of playing for a top market team. A prime example of this is Carmelo Anthony, who chose to represent the big apple with no direction over the Chicago Bulls, who were only one piece away from being a dynasty. However, as history unravels itself, the Grizzlies during the 2010s were known as a team that was a piece away from making the finals while also being arguably the most annoying team organizations had to face. 

Once the Marc Gasol and Mike Conley era came to an official close, the Grizzlies displayed one of the fastest rebuilds in NBA history! In the last two seasons, the Grizzlies have drafted young pupils in Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke and Jaren Jackson Jr, traded for a double-double machine in Jonas Valanciunas, and have taken smart risks by trading for Josh Jackson and Justice Winslow. The Grizzlies have a deep young core filled with potential and dedication. Memphis plans to adapt a new basketball culture and is expected to be a dynasty in many years to come. However, if the owner decides to relocate now during this fragile time, chances are that he will miss out on a terrific financial opportunity. Although the players will receive their income, the possibility of popularizing basketball in Memphis would be a missed opportunity. 

Before the Golden State Warriors became the jaw-dropping dynasty that most people did not expect, Golden State was one of the lowest markets the NBA had to offer. Even though they did have the “We Believe” warriors teams back in 2007 where they eliminated the first-seeded Dallas Mavericks as the eighth seed, Golden State was a blur of an organization before Stephen Curry emerged as a superstar sensation. The Warriors went from being one of the lowest market teams to being regarded as the top ten most valuable teams the NBA has to offer! Their five straight final runs did help the organization severely; however, the Warrior’s growth to popularity, for the most part, was all organic. The Grizzlies are in a similar situation as they have drafted most of their young pupils and have a chance to develop them into potential first-ballot Hall of Famers. 

Although it is tough to emulate what the Warriors have done, it is possible that the Grizzlies can construct a team suitable enough to at least contend for a championship for the foreseeable future. Memphis has all the pieces to make this happen as they have a point guard that has the athleticism of Russell Westbrook while also having a reliable jump-shot. 

Robert Pera wanting to relocate the Memphis Grizzlies, makes sense from the surface level but looks to be a very rushed decision when diving into all the facts. Reality is, the Grizzlies have a talented young roster to work with and have a chance to popularize and construct a new playing style that could change the entire league! Even though the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks are among some of the organizations that have a tremendous young foundation to work with, the Grizzlies have already displayed flashes of contention as they are currently the eighth seed in a competitive Western Conference! Ja Morant and the rest of the roster have only played one season together but have exceeded expectations given their level of experience. By Robert Pera wanting to relocate, the moral of the players would remain the same. However, the opportunity to grow basketball in Memphis and creating a potential dynasty in a low market organization would disappear. Memphis has a chance to create one of the greatest teams in NBA history, but if they relocate, the aspect of growing basketball in Memphis would never happen.