As the Grizzlies will embark on a rebuild, I put together a study guide/crash course of sorts to assess the state of the roster, the young core, and vets. I also talk about the utility of traded player exceptions and picks, and of course... this draft class open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

With Ty and Pippen under contract is drafting a reliably healthy big a bigger need than a ball dominant guard, which seems to be the strength of this draft? Edey is a 300lb mammoth that keeps having lower leg/foot issues and our best defensive big got traded

How big of a difference do you think there is between Kingston Flemings and (pick a guard in the 10-15 range) Acuff or Stirtz?

Do you think Tuomas Iisalo will be a successful NBA coach in Memphis? Which players do you anticipate falling into the second round that could be eventual quality role players?

Who are small forwards and power forwards to watch as potentially falling in our draft range?

i like hendricks. Obviously will need to see if he can be impactful in a winning context but he has physical tools and some different skills I want to at least bet on

kyle anderson with the Jokic assignment we are seated

while games are on tonight, i want to bump here: i'm going to use all-star break next week to do a mailbag. would like to do make part 1 a Grizzlies-centric one, and 1 a draft-centric one. hit me with your questions to answer

NEW SUBTSAKALIDIS SCOUTING: Mikel Brown Jr. exploded for a 45-point breakout performance this week. I examine his shooting versatility, playmaking and driving process, and defensive room for growth. youtu.be/RLYMJybylAE

Doing a mailbag for next week. Busy week, and thought it’d be a good time to do one. Going to do a draft/scouting mailbag then a Grizzlies one. Fire away your questions👇

Austin Rivers’ New Groove

New film roundup from last week with focus on the players impacted from trade deadline: What Jazz are getting with JJJ, Vince Williams Ty Jerome's elite skill Grizzlies 4’s taking on BIGGER roles Walter Clayton Jr. first impressions Kyle Anderson is so back &more open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

i didn't realize how much i missed kyle anderson on this basketball team until now

can the crowd be all in on booing hayes?

seeing the reports about how Giannis wanted to play with Ant in Minnesota... then you had KD in the summer also interested... this was supposed to be the path with the ja era in Memphis -- stars wanting to come play with him

The Grizzlies didn’t trade Ja Morant at the trade deadline. On the Morant’s value, what’s up the rest of the season, offseason landscape, why Jaren before Ja, and the relief about not selling high. Also, some quick hitters with the Grizzlies’ post-deadline outlook open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

I think I’m in the boat where my favorite Ja trade is to the Kings for Zach LaVine. Let him do a MPJ and go crazy, flip him as an expiring at the deadline, go from there

The Memphis Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. Here’s my attempt to unpack everything. Main focus — how the trade ages depends on how Grizzlies use the picks and its $28M TPE: subtsakalidis.substack.com/p/unpacking-...

when it's used to get Cam Johnson in a salary dump because the Nuggets need to pay Peyton Watson

genuinely not sure what to think about the Jaren trade -- part of it is I want to see how they use it as a domino effect. do they open up cap space next summer and either become a salary dump ground or throw a bag at a RFA? do they do the same with the fat TPE? but MAN losing Jaren stings

Just noting that Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid both fit into the MEM TPE that was created in the Jaren trade.

I took part of a mock trade deadline with The Center Hub as the mock Grizzlies GM. I made 4 trades with a focus on asset accumulation and doubling down on a critical advantage. open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

I hope Ty Jerome is telling Randle that he’d start on their team, like he did to Paolo last season (Which is 100% accurate)

It sometimes bears remembering that the Grizzlies are legitimately down half a rotation

you can't squash The Bug when the lights are at its brightest @chrisherrington.bsky.social @fastbreakbreak.bsky.social @therealhrdlicka.bsky.social

ty jerome quickly showing the utility and value of having a PG that can hit pull-up 3's out of the PNR

A Film Roundup for timeout entertainment: Ty Jerome returns and shows his value in the PNR Cedric Coward's creation flashes (need MORE) Dailyn Swain's driving appeal + questions O-Max Prosper's rim protection against Wolves Koa Peat's defense + more subtsakalidis.substack.com/p/film-round...

Devin Booker on Dillon Brooks as an All-Star: "There could be a replacement that comes up, and Dillon's name should be at the top of that list."

didn't get the players right, but got the concept right for the Blazers/Hawks trade. Blazers get some shooting depth while the Hawks clear out a skillset redundancy. Hawks get a big man, although Reath is out for the year. The play for them is the extra second-round picks they acquired

oh Sacramento's in the tax now? i got an idea to get them out....

NEW — rare Sunday drop, rare league-wide post 🚨 I put together a 30-team NBA Trade Deadline primer — tiering teams up on their deadline aspirations, showing what may be on/off the table, each team’s season outlook, and 1 mock trade per team. open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

Ty Jerome doing ball-handling drills in preparation for his Grizzlies debut

Part 2 of my Trade Deadline Mailbag: Focused here on intriguing center options on teams with second-apron decisions, then potential trade pieces from a possible Ja Morant deal open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

damn, i wish sb nation didn’t kill the GBB archives so I can pull receipts on calling Dillon Brooks an elite role player in 2018

I took responses on realistic trade targets the Grizzlies should go after, and tiered them up. Part 1 lists includes fascinating trade targets, untouchables, players I wouldn't be interested in. Brief words on the Karl-Anthony Towns, Grizzlies report from last week. open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

FILM ROUNDUP 📽️ - Jaylen Wells' craft with finishing - Jock Landale is rolling - Jaren Jackson swatting shots - Stay jitty - Keaton Wagler star tape - Some Meleek Thomas reads open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

a coward-edey-flemings core would have me doing backflips down beale street

I get asked about the extension question with Ja, and the spin I am liking it to is “how would we react if New Orleans was talking about giving a max extension to Zion?” (Zion has played 131 games the last 3 seasons. Ja is at 79)

“His ability to fit into almost any offensive role, whether as a screener, as a spacer and even as a handler. It’s really a testament to his adaptability” More on how Aldama links skills together, maximizes possessions, and highlights where basketball is heading. open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

Jey Uso’s legacy is having the Yeet Cam at sporting events. It’s ELECTRIC

want jock to drop 40 for the vibes

Trey Murphy is dropping really good “f- them picks” tape for any interested teams

There’s only 1 Steph

Film Roundup 🎞️ The Grizzlies in Europe — most intriguingly, Ja Morant’s masterclasses. Prospect stuff on Auburn and SMU, but what really stood out was Darryn Peterson’s superstar performance against Baylor open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

Rare Sunday post — GG Jackson has had his number called, and he’s showing he can impact the game in more ways than scoring. On his defensive strides, his offense within the system, and the area he’s adding immense value: open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

Might vomit

Last week, I released the 2nd version of my 2026 #NBADraft Big Board with 1st round prospects. I have a notebook of players outside my T30 with where I am in the draft cycle - Fallers from board 1.0 - Intriguing names to monitor - Quick auto-eligibility convo +more open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

I could easily be wrong, but why do I have the feeling this just ends in some sort for Ja for Herro + Fontecchio swap with no picks? Helps Heat avoid the extension conversation with Herro. Maybe Memphis builds up his value as an expiring to get the asset capital it’s looking for? Off base?

As reports circulate, and with the trade deadline about 3 weeks away, I break down the 5 questions that will be answered in a potential Ja Morant trade. On which players could be in play, the draft capital it could bring back, and if any dark horses could emerge open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...

Late post but film roundup on the games from last night: - cool two-way play from Cedric Coward, Jaren Jackson Jr. - shot-making from the Grizz young guys - Aldama's sneaky rim protection - Kingston in the mid-range - Ament story with a flash +more open.substack.com/pub/subtsaka...