Garrett Temple has received none of the attention or appreciate the Grizzlies have drawn this season. Despite the unexpected success this year, other characters have garnered praise for Memphis’ strong start. They all deserve it. Marc Gasol has a DPOY argument. Mike Conley should get his first All-Star nod. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a unicorn.

But Temple is an invaluable cog in the machine. Last year ahead of the deadline plenty of analysts were screaming a contender should go rescue Temple from the Kings. Then when pre-season predictions were being made, Garrett Temple’s name was never mentioned as a valuable addition for the Grizzlies. In retrospect, Temple may have been the perfect veteran addition for Memphis.

Defense

We all know what the Grizzlies want to do. They want to slow down the game and grind out wins. Temple is doing more than his fair share of the heavy lifting.

As of this writing, Temple is tied for 1st in D-PIPM among shooting guards. He also ranks 6th among shooting guards in DRPM. Overall, he is 22nd in D-PIPM. Furthermore, according to our grading data, Temple has received an A for his perimeter defense this year.

Part of the reason Temple has been so successful on the perimeter is teams are getting no traction against him when utilizing handoffs. Per our DPOE data, Temple is sporting the best DPOE on handoffs in the league.

Offense

Temple is enjoying one of his best offensive seasons, especially in the realm of shooting. So far this year he is sporting a 57.4 true shooting percent, 53.6 eFG percent, and is hitting 81 percent of his free throws. All three would be a single season best should they hold.

Temple is providing some of the best Morey-Ball minutes for the Grizzlies. 78.3 percent of all his shots are coming either at the rim or from distance. On shots within three feet of the basket, he is shooting 71.7 percent. For context, Karl-Anthony Towns is a career 71 percent shooter within three feet of the rim.

Temple is also currently receiving an A- grade for perimeter shooting. In fact, he is grading out as at least an A- in three offensive categories; perimeter shooting, off-ball movement, and one-on-one.

Temple has done well this season as a cutter. He is a high IQ player that can take advantage of playing with quality facilitators, and is quick enough to beat a hedging defender.

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Really take a moment to appreciate that second clip. Covington is trying to stay aware of the ball while playing Temple. Covington is staring into space, trying to keep both his man and the ball in his peripheral vision. Temple notices the hedge and cuts to the basket. Again, this is against Robert Covington, a worthy defensive player of the year candidate.

Value

The Grizzlies traded Deyonta Davis, Ben McLemore, $1.5 million in cash, and a 2nd round pick to Sacramento for Temple. Even if this turns out to be a one year rental, that’s a pretty low cost for someone that has been so effective on a team with playoff aspirations.

And all this impact is coming on just an $8 million salary. For a player in a starting rotation on a winning club, providing elite defense at his position, that is a bargain. $8 million is quite below starter level money. This is why everyone was screaming for someone to acquire Temple at last year’s trade deadline.

Temple can leave after this season should he want to seek the first and last big contract of his career ahead of his age 33 season. He will also carry a $12 million cap hold ahead of any decision made by the team or the player.

His future is a conversation for another time, but at present, Temple has been an important part of the Grizzlies’ 16-13 start.