Despite only 15 wins in 63 tries the interim tag for JB Bickerstaff was removed. Bickerstaff is known for his player development skills and fits the bill for a rebuilding Memphis team.
The longtime assistant is now faced with two priorities -- create a foundation of stability while also managing the expectations of high-priced veterans led by Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and Chandler Parsons.
Let's look ahead to the free-agency, draft and trade decisions facing Memphis this offseason.
More summer focus: Click here for every team so far
Be honest with Mike Conley and Marc Gasol
There will come a time in the offseason when the Grizzlies' front office will need to meet with Conley and Gasol about the direction of the team. The priority of the meeting: full transparency about the future.
The direction of the team has changed since both players signed their big contracts, and realistic expectations need to be set for the 2018-19 season. This Memphis team faces a gradual rebuild with $78 million committed to three players (Gasol, Conley and Chandler Parsons) for next season.
Yes, GM Chris Wallace can point to the Conley injury and the firing of Dave Fizdale early in the season as reasons why Memphis won 22 games, but let's be honest. This Memphis team as constructed resembles a lottery team and not one competing for a playoff spot. Can Gasol -- who could opt out of his contract after the 2018-19 season -- accept playing on a team that will likely miss the postseason?
If the answer is no, Memphis will have a small window to decide on the future of its franchise center. That could be made easier if the Grizzlies land the top pick in the draft.
The Parsons reality
Where do the Grizzlies go with Chandler Parsons?
Parsons was perceived as the X factor to the Grizzlies' success when he was signed to a $92 million contract in 2016. Now with $49 million left on the deal, Memphis will need to come to the realization that Parsons is more of a rotation player at this stage of his career.
When healthy this season, Parsons showed flashes of the player the Grizzlies' front office watched in Houston and Dallas The question now is not if Parsons can justify his contract, but if he can he stay on the floor and regularly contribute.
Summer cap breakdown
The Grizzlies will enter free agency over the salary cap with $110 million in guaranteed contracts, including the projected No. 2 pick in the draft.
Being over the cap will come with restrictions as the Grizzlies will have only the $8.6 million mid-level exception. The Grizzlies do not have the $3.4 million bi-annual exception based on the Tyreke Evans signing last July. Teams are prohibited from using the bi-annual in consecutive seasons.
Memphis does have $3.5 and $1.7 million trade exceptions to use.
Dates to watch
Memphis has stumbled identifying talent in the draft but earns high marks for signing undrafted college players.
One of those players, Wayne Selden, will likely see his $1.5 million contract guaranteed by being on the roster past July 10.
Selden has missed 35 games as a result of various injuries. However, with the Grizzlies restricted in signing players in the offseason because of the salary cap, Selden's low salary makes him an obvious candidate to be on the team's roster for 2018-19.
Restrictions
Trading Gasol would not only see the Grizzlies lose their franchise center but also cost $3.6 million. Because Gasol has a 15 percent trade bonus in his contract, Memphis would be responsible for paying the bonus to Gasol 30 days after the trade.
Gasol has the option of waiving the bonus in his contract. If he doesn't, the acquiring team would have a $27.7 million cap hit (if traded past July 6).
The free agent focus
The Grizzlies' roster is also limited based on having 10 guaranteed contracts, not including two draft picks and the non-guaranteed contracts of Andrew Harrison and Selden. Add that up and the Grizzlies will have only one open roster spot unless there is a trade.
Even with the restrictions, two areas of focus for Memphis will be the wing position and backup point guard (to compete with Harrison).
Because the draft is weighted in the top five with centers and power forwards (except for Luka Doncic), Memphis will likely need to focus on free agency when it comes to shooting guard or small forward.
Options will be limited unless the Grizzlies can bring back Evans at the mid-level exception. That is not out of the question based on teams having limited spending ability this year.
Extension-eligible candidates
Don't expect the Grizzlies to become active when it comes to their five players eligible for an extension.
Jarell Martin, rookie extension eligible up until Oct. 15, is the only player the Memphis front office should have a conversation about. Almost a roster casualty before the season started, Martin has turned into a serviceable backup.
Because Memphis potentially could have cap flexibility in 2019 and 2020 and Martin has only a one-year body of work on the court, holding off on a new contract would be the best course.
Parsons, Gasol, Harrison and Deyonta Davis are eligible as well.
The draft assets
It would be an understatement to say the June draft could alter the shape of the franchise.
With a potential top two-pick, Memphis has the opportunity to do something it couldn't in the past 10 years -- draft a franchise player.
Here's how ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz have Memphis picking in the 2018 draft:
No. 4 (own): Luka Doncic | PG | Real Madrid
No. 32 (own): Khyri Thomas | SG | Creighton
The Grizzlies do not own their 2019 first-round pick outright.
Traded to the Celtics to acquire Jeff Green, the pick will be conveyed in 2019 (top-8 protected), 2020 (top-6 protected) or 2021 (unprotected).