Decide if Jonas Valanciunas will remain with the organization long-term

None of the Memphis Grizzlies’ core or key bench talents will be free agents this offseason, which is a big stress that this organization will not have to deal with, but seeing as they are still far away from being a true contender and threat, they will still need to try and build for the future and make the right moves to set themselves up for the most success. 

With him set to enter the final year of his contract and make $14M next season, the highest payroll on the team, Jonas Valanciunas will definitely be a player that the Grizzlies will have to sit down and talk about. Finishing up his 9th season in the league, Valanciunas has been a steady, reliable center for Memphis since joining them during the 2018-19 season, but is he a player that can help make them a contender?

READ MORE: NBA Trade Rumors: Memphis Grizzlies ‘aren’t yet sold’ on Jaren Jackson Jr.

He is arguably having the best season of his career this year, averaging 16.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and shooting 58.5% from the floor, but given how the center position has changed in the NBA, there are question marks as to if Valanciunas is a player worth investing a lot of money into. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. is a hybrid power-forward that can stretch the floor and play the center position, as can rookie Xavier Tillman, so Jonas Valanciunas’ worth to the Grizzlies could begin to decline slightly in the offseason. 

All-in-all, I fully expect Valanciunas to be back in a Grizzlies uniform next season, but there likely will not be a contract extension this offseason and it is a very real possibility that Valanciunas will become a unrestricted free agent in 2022.