Ideal Free Agent for Memphis Grizzlies at Every Position

After an underwhelming draft, the Memphis Grizzlies have plenty of work ahead of them in free agency before thrusting themselves into the Western Conference gauntlet. The chief task for the Grizzlies is re-signing their best player, Marc Gasol.

Gasol has been low-key about the upcoming free agency period. Nevertheless, given that he is the best all-around center and one of the top players on the market, Memphis faces a fair amount of competition for his services.

The Grizzlies will reshuffle the second unit as two reserves, Kosta Koufos and Nick Calathes, become free agents. JaMychal Green, Beno Udrih and Matt Barnes, whom Memphis acquired via trade from the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, have partially guaranteed contracts for 2015-16. Russ Smith has a non-guaranteed deal for next season.

Calathes may be a restricted free agent, but he's looking abroad and seeking $3.5 million, as David Pick tweeted. Also, the point guard could find a bigger role overseas.

After re-signing Gasol, or grabbing another high-priced big man if need be, the Grizzlies won't have much room under the salary cap. If they re-sign him to the five-year, $109-million-maximum contract they can offer (per ESPN.com's Marc Stein), they would have just under $60 million on the books before the trio with partially guaranteed deals get locked in on July 5 (if they're not waived).

Afterwards, they would have $62 million, $5 million below the salary cap.

That only leaves a small window in which Memphis can pursue players who demand salaries beyond salary cap exception levels. This explains why "the Grizzlies will push for a quick commitment from Gasol," per The Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery.

Memphis can stand to upgrade a few spots on their bench. With Udrih and Vince Carter aging, they could use another backup point guard and three-point marksman. At that, the Grizzlies, which were 22nd in three-point field-goal percentage, would do well signing multiple gunners after Carter made only 29.7 percent in 2014-15.

Also, with Koufos demanding a starting job, per Euro Hoops' Aris Barkas, the Grizzlies will seek an additional backup big man.

A wise move would be splitting the midlevel exception.

Following is a look at ideal options at each position for Memphis.

Center: Marc Gasol

The Grizzlies' offseason will be defined by whether they bring back Gasol.

While making an impassioned plea for the 7'1", 265-pound center's return, The Commercial Appeal's Geoff Calkins said, "You may not have spent any time thinking about this decision, but Grizzlies fans haven't thought about much else."

Truly, contemplating a Grizzlies future without their best player seems rough. He emerged as a powerful scorer this season, averaging a career-high 17.4 points per game.

Gasol's one of the Grizzlies' two most valuable defenders. He protects the paint deftly and can cheat to cover the perimeter. He finished in the top eight in defensive win shares three of the past four years and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2012-13.

Memphis has already seen how they could fall defensively without him, as it plummeted near the bottom during his 23-game absence due to a right knee sprain in 2013-14.

Gasol's passing helps grease the Grizzlies' offensive wheels. The 30-year-old acts as a secondary facilitator beside Mike Conley, averaging 3.8 assists per game in the past three seasons.

While the San Antonio Spurs are serious suitors, CBSSports.com's Matt Moore noted, "No one in Memphis expects him to leave. No one in the league really expects him to leave."

After attending high school in Memphis, playing all seven seasons with the Grizzlies, having his family move to Bluff City and growing close with Conley and Zach Randolph, Gasol seems sure to re-up. Any other result would leave the Grizzlies scrambling.

Power Forward: Jason Smith

With two unproven reserve big men on their bench, (rookie Jarell Martin and sophomore Jarnell Stokes), the Grizzlies could use someone who is taller than 6'9" and possesses shooting range.

Jason Smith fits the bill. The 7-foot, 240-pound front man boasts a smooth jumper. He scored eight points in 21.8 minutes per game on 43.4 percent from the field in 2014-15, including 47.5 percent from between 10 and 16 feet and 43.5 percent of his long two-pointers. Also, Smith has started knocking down three-pointers, connecting on 35.7 percent of 42 attempts.

Smith has some shot-blocking ability, as he has swatted 1.3 shots per 36 minutes in his career, but has been unspectacular overall on the defensive end. He has allowed a horrible 108 points per 100 possessions through his seven-year career.

The New York Knicks want to re-sign him, per the New York Post's Marc Berman. However, the Grizzlies can persuade him to join a winner by offering him a partial midlevel exception. Barring a big jump by Stokes, Smith would be the primary reserve big man for Memphis.

Getting about the same playing time for a team with a clear path to playoff success should appeal to the seven-year veteran.

Small Forward: Mike Dunleavy

The free-agent market isn't bursting with spectacular outside shooters who are available at a bargain, but Mike Dunleavy sits in the Grizzlies' price range.

The 6'9", 220-pound swing man earned $3 million for the Bulls each of the past two years.

Dunleavy was as sharp as ever, hitting 40.7 percent from long range, his fourth season above 40 percent. He scored 9.4 points in 29.4 minutes per game as a starter while playing a specific role as a three-point specialist.

The 13-year pro, who turns 35 in September, largely acts as a catch-and-shoot marksman.

That approach would serve perfectly in supplanting Carter as the top off-ball perimeter shooter on Memphis' second unit. Dunleavy would allow room for Udrih and Jeff Green to create while anticipating a kick-out pass.

Bulls general manager Gar Forman told 670 the Score Chicago's Cody Westerlund he wants to re-sign Dunleavy.

Dunleavy's long-range shooting warrants an early, higher-dollar bid while Memphis is under the salary cap. They can't do this for younger gunners like Danny Green and DeMarre Carroll due to their monetary demands.

Neither the Bulls nor the Grizzlies would post more than $4 million for the veteran, but Memphis can make Dunleavy think twice about returning to Chicago.

Also, since Memphis' championship window is a little wider than the Bulls', the Grizzlies can provide hope of playoff competitiveness. The Grizzlies have ongoing injury concerns with Mike Conley, as the Bulls do with Joakim Noah.

But while Memphis knows its core's status, the Bulls can't get the same from Derrick Rose as they did a few years ago and face questions regarding whether Rose and Jimmy Butler could coexist if Butler re-signs, according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley.

New Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg will take a year or two forming a new core centered around Nikola Mirotic and, perhaps, Butler.

With that, Dunleavy would find greater certainty in Memphis.

Shooting Guard: Marco Belinelli

Marco Belinelli is another bargain-bin three-point shooter who should be on the Grizzlies' radar.

The 6'5", 192-pound shooting guard dipped in his second year with the San Antonio Spurs, hitting 37.4 percent, significantly lower than his 43 percent clip in 2013-14.

Still, Belinelli would be a boost for the Grizzlies on the outside, as he's knocked down 39.2 percent from downtown for his career.

The 28-year-old handles the ball more than Dunleavy does, but makes his living on the outside. He took 48.9 percent of his attempts from long range in 2014-15 on his way to 9.2 points per game.

Belinelli has never been sound defensively. He allows 109 points per 100 possessions for his career.

The Italian was unclear about his future in an interview with Sportando, saying, "There are chances for me to re-sign with the Spurs. There will also be the possibility to move to another team. As I've always said, San Antonio is a very strong team."

The Grizzlies could offer him a partial midlevel exception.

Point Guard: C.J. Watson

C.J. Watson didn't have a smooth tenure with the Indiana Pacers, mainly because he missed 44 games through two years due to injury.

Watson was productive in 2014-15, averaging 10 points and 3.6 assists in 24.9 minutes per game while hitting 43.4 percent from the field.

He's a strong ball-handler, although he struggled with greater responsibility. He had a 16.9 percent turnover rate with an 18.8 percent usage rate in the past year after posting a 13.9 percent turnover rate with a 16.6 percent usage rate the year before.

If Memphis were to grab the 31-year-old, they'd be able to offer him a smaller, more comfortable role that spares his body and allows him to distribute without as much playmaking pressure. Instead of trying to push the ball on a fringe team, Watson could sling the ball to Jeff Green and Zach Randolph while seeing around 15 minutes per game.

That gives Watson a better chance of making it through the entire season.

Also, Watson would be a defensive upgrade as a No. 2 point guard over Udrih. The eight-year pro is a disciplined stopper who allowed 103 points per 100 possessions. Udrih, who allowed 105 for the Grizzlies last season, frequently became lost.

Watson has only earned more than $2.5 million twice and won't receive a great amount this summer. The Grizzlies can get him with a partial mid-level exception.

Honorable Mentions

Greg Monroe

In case Gasol signs elsewhere, the Grizzlies could chase Monroe. The 6'11", 253-pound front man comes as close as possible to replacing the Spaniard's impact. Monroe possesses remarkable two-way skills. The 25-year-old is a heady inside scorer, averaging 15.9 points in 31 minutes per game while shooting 49.6 percent from the field this season.

He's a tough rebounder, placing 10th in the NBA at 10.2 rebounds per game in 2014-15.

The five-year pro protects the rim effectively. He did his part holding up the Detroit Pistons' flimsy defense, allowing 103 points per 100 possessions.

He also passes well from the post, averaging 2.1 assists per game this season.

Spacing would become a significant concern if the Grizzlies combined Monroe and Zach Randolph in their offense. Monroe took 92.2 percent of his shots inside 10 feet. That could lead Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger to play Randolph in the high post since he has more range.

Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling tweeted that Monroe plans to meet with three or four teams, noting the Knicks as "a strong candidate." RealGM's Shams Chanaria reported the Atlanta Hawks are also in the running.

If Gasol departs, the Grizzlies should compete with the Hawks in offering Monroe a spot with a premier team.

Iman Shumpert

Shumpert has transitioned to role-player status as a sharp defender with some outside shooting ability. After being traded from the Knicks to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 5, the 6'5", 212-pound 2-guard became a valuable assistant in stopping perimeter gunners. Shumpert hawked the ball, grabbing 1.9 steals per 36 minutes for the season and two per 36 for the Cavaliers.

Shumpert isn't a great shooter. He scored eight points in 24.9 minutes per game on 41 percent shooting and 34.2 percent from three-point range this season, including 7.2 points in 24.2 minutes per while hitting 33.8 behind the arc for the Cavs.

Despite being a pedestrian shooter overall at 39.6 percent for his career, the four-year pro is decent from long range. He's drained 34.2 percent on three attempts per game.

That doesn't make a great difference for the Grizzlies, but he's decent enough to add depth in that area. 

One concern would be that signing Shumpert duplicates Matt Barnes' role as a reasonable-shooting wing defender. But Shumpert's handles should help move the ball on the second unit.

Unless otherwise noted, advanced statistics come from basketball-reference.com.

Tom Firme is a Memphis Grizzlies featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @TFirme.