Choose Your Own Adventure: Finding a fill-in for Brandon Clarke

Dillon Brooks’ impending exodus and Ja Morant’s imminent suspension. After highlighting select contingency plans for 12 and 24 facing Memphis in Parts One and Two of our new series, the focus of Part Three now shifts to the Great White North. Meaning Memphis’ Canadian cornerstone Brandon Clarke. How the Grizzlies chose to reconstruct their frontcourt in BC’s absence could have a profound impact on this team.

Seemingly forgotten amidst the hubbub surrounding Morant’s Instagram Live incident in Denver, Memphis lost Clarke to an Achilles tear hours before. With BC set to miss the remainder of the season, the injury would effectively snuff out any hope of Grizzlies playoff run. He was their best shot at overcoming the Adam’s loss; the personnel on the roster lacked the size and strength otherwise.

The impact of losing Clarke must not be understated. It wasn’t just that Memphis was down two of their top six guys with Adams and Clarke out. It’s that they had lost arguably the most significant postseason X-factor on the roster. Remember round one of the playoffs last year? BC practically single-handedly swung the Timberwolves series for the Grizz. I was at one of those games. You think another player on the court came anywhere close to matching his energy and effort? Heck no.

Oddly enough, after years of the franchise’s apparent ineptitude at developing forwards, Memphis now has a plethora of options to chose from. With Clarke bringing such a hyper specific skillset to the Grizzlies, it’s imperative they do their due diligence when it comes to evaluating the roster fits. The franchise absolutely cannot afford to go a full season missing what Brandon brings to the table, the hole must be patched somehow.

!WARNING and BEWARE!

‘This piece is different from other pieces. You and YOU ALONE are in charge of what happens this Memphis ‘offseason’. There are dangers, choices, adventures and consequences. YOU must use all of your numerous talents and much of your enormous intelligence. The wrong decision could end in disaster—even death…

But, don’t despair. At anytime, YOU can go back and make another choice, alter the path of your story, and change its result… You have just gotten updated on Brandon Clarke’s successful surgery and now ready the search for reinforcements…’

If you decide to uncover the answer where ‘X’ marks the spot turn to #2…

Should you settle on this option, you eventually may find the map leads to a bounty rather familiar in Memphis. It wouldn’t be the first time Xavier Tillman Sr. has rose to the occasion after all. No, the Grizzlies have already needed him to do so on more than one occasion during the ex-Spartan’s young NBA career; he did so these last playoffs in relief of the injured Steven Adams.

In 6 games against the Lakers while playing 30.5 minutes a game, he averaged 8.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. That’s sniffing double double territory. Not only that but ‘X’ ranked in the top 5 on the roster in points (5th), rebounds (1st), assists (3rd), and FG% (1st). Xavier Tillman Sr., second round pick out of Michigan State, had the best FG% for the Grizzlies this post-season. Not sure you can ask much more of a guy who’s never averaged more than 20 minutes per game in a season or post season before…

That’s not to discount the minutes he has gotten. On the contrary, it’s just that is nothing short of impressive growth from Tillman. Truly impressive growth. Growth which wouldn’t be possible without seeing consistent playing time. Going from regular season stretches on the end of the bench, to starting effective minutes in a playoff series is a big swing. It’s beyond me how one is able to stay ready for that. ‘X’ has done it and continues to do so. Following the map and signing his team option this offseason honestly seems like a no brainer.

If you decide to expand the flavor profile with ‘Slim Spain’ turn to #7…

Should you reach this conclusion, deciding on Santi Aldama, it will show a true devotion to the inner development of the Grizzlies. It wouldn’t be misplaced devotion. Inner development is kind of the Memphis thing right? When it comes down to it, Aldama is yet another player in a series of players the team team targets and acquires in the draft. Players the rest of the league passed on for one reason or the other (wingspan, college career, body shape, etc). The Grizzlies don’t care about any of that; they care if you can hoop. That’s something we know that Santi can do.

At least we know now. Where many thought it was going to be Ziaire Williams who took the second year leap for Memphis, fans were treated instead to something surprisingly different…Santi is the sophomore none of us could quit talking about. After essentially not being in the rotation his rookie year, he started the season in relief of Jaren Jackson Jr. It’s a huge reason why the Grizzlies stayed alive with Trip out if we’re being honest. I certainly wasn’t expecting Aldama to produce in this fashion last year (9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 21.8 min/game) based on his rookie year though.

Not sure how any of the league could. Well…the NBA is on notice now. The thing is, that presents the problem. Every team in the NBA is now privy to the fact that Aldama can hoop. His value as a potential trade asset has thus currently reached its pinnacle. Moving on from Santi though just doesn’t sit right with me, after the leap he took last season. You chose this, and you chose to believe second year leaps are no fluke. Third year jump incoming right?

If you decide to pass it down a generation to ‘Junior’ turn to #6…

If you prefer to watch a grown man push around, bully, and overpower other grown men while playing the game of basketball in front of an audience, you’re going to want to sit down and take a good, hard look at Kennth Lofton Jr. Shoot the Grizzlies did. When I say he bulldozes through guys in his way I wouldn’t say that I’m exaggerating much. ‘Junior’ is simply an absolute brute of human. Considering Memphis and their bigs’ overall lack of size, someone with this type of mass really goes a long way. Especially when you consider the cost most organization’s pay for this type of player.

The Grizzlies rather smartly chose to use one of their two-way contracts on ‘Junior’. As such he managed to crack the main roster throughout the regular season, while also getting consistent reps with the Hustle. He even topped the year off by getting the start the final game of the year. Oh and he just scored 42 points in the game, which again was the first start of his NBA career. That’s all. Just 42 points in his first ever start. He brought down 14 boards on top of that as well, cause you know why know? I mean we all get it right? Just your causal 42 point, 14 board double double, no big deal…

The point is the raw ability is clearly there and then some; you can tell the kids hoops IQ is off the charts. To be honest at this point ‘Junior’ just needs to see the court more. Memphis made a long term commitment to the former un-drafted rookie as a member of their frontcourt when they converted his two way to a 4 year deal worth $6,927,014. If Lofton Jr. turns into half the player we all believe he can… well you won’t find a contract that’s more of bargain than this one when year 3 or 4 of that deal kicks in. Putting all your money on this selection is relying completely on potential…and we know ‘Junior’ oozes that so…

If you decide to ignore the signs not watching your ‘Wake’ turn to #3…

‘You keep accelerating, and there seems to be no end to your speed. Things begin to blur. The outline of the control console becomes indistinct, the lights seem to brighten, and you recognize that there is no barrier between you and outer space. You merge into starry emptiness.’

Shoot… I need to start talking to my therapist about the endings of these books don’t I?

Look, I like him as a player, but it doesn’t change the fact that I would describe Jake LaRavia’s style of play…something along the lines of “painfully slow”. Whereas, I would describe Brandon Clarke’s style of play…let’s say “hyper athletic”. Painfully slow or hyper-athletic. Those seem like opposites right? Let me check the calendar…yep, can confirm Opposite Day isn’t until the last Thursday of August, so yeah… let’s just not try this one ok?

What ending will you chose for the Grizzlies?

Compared to the other unknowns Memphis is facing this offseason, I’m worried about this one the least if I’m being honest. This is by no means a knock on Brandon Clarke; I believe there’s not a single player in the league who plays the game the style BC does. My lack of distress is more of testament to the quality and consistency of the players that the Grizzlies have drafted. Regardless of preference, there’s not a wrong choice in the bunch – and that’s not something most teams are able to say.

Let me rephrase that. What I meant to say was regardless of preference, unless of course that preference is “slower guy who clearly needs more time to develop”, you can’t go wrong. There, that’s more like it.