Memphis Grizzlies 2025 Trade Deadline Primer: Intriguing Targets, Overall Thoughts
The NBA Trade Deadline is here. Who are some intriguing players for the Memphis Grizzlies? What is their outlook ahead of Thursday's deadline?
Happy Trade Deadline Week! The NBA has presented the lovely appetizer of… LUKA [the loudest expletive] DONCIC GOING TO THE LAKERS FOR ANTHONY DAVIS. It’s like bang bang shrimp with doses of psychedelics in the dish — a trade that was so spicy and hallucinating that it left everyone trance, thinking “did Shams get hacked???” Then, De’Aaron Fox has been traded to the San Antonio Spurs to give Victor Wembanyama an All-Star, while Zach LaVine was looped into the three-team deal on his way to Sacramento. Ahead of Thursday’s deadline, we’re still waiting for the Jimmy Butler saga to end. Bradley Beal holds the entire week in his cards with his no-trade clause.
But let’s narrow our focus to the Memphis Grizzlies. They’re 34-16, good for 2nd in the Western Conference. They may not be in the Celtics-Thunder-Cavaliers tier of contention, but they’re certainly a team that could realistically win an NBA championship this season. Could the trade deadline be a realistic pathway to bolster their chances to do so?
Perhaps, but what could really shake out for the Memphis Grizzlies?
What we know
Rumors are rumors. It could be smoke, but also could be legitimate.
In December, the Grizzlies had reportedly offered Luke Kennard, John Konchar, and this year’s 1st (protected top-17) for Dorian Finney-Smith and their 2025 2nd. The Nets went with the Lakers’ offer of D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and 3 second-round picks.
When Jimmy Butler’s trade request swept the NBA transaction discourse, the Grizzlies emerged as a betting favorite. Multiple factors contributed — the Grizzlies are a contending team, Jimmy Butler fits the big wing archetype Zach Kleiman has long desired, and they have the contracts and salary cap flexibility in this apron rule to execute such a trade. Reports came out of Butler’s camp that he didn’t want to go to Memphis.
Other than that, there’s not a whole lot on the Memphis front. They keep getting brought into Cam Johnson rumors. Back in December, Marc Stein reported that some Eastern Conference teams are interested in John Konchar. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported on Friday that there have been plenty of discussions around Marcus Smart’s availability at the trade deadline.
Does that guarantee anything happens? Who knows. Kleiman has made a trade in 3 of his 5 trade deadlines.
2020: Justise Winslow/Iguodala trade
2023: Danny Green and 3 seconds for Luke Kennard
2024: Steven Adams for Victor Oladipo and 3 second-round picks. Xavier Tillman for Lamar Stevens and 2 second-round picks. David Roddy for Metu and a 2026 1st-round pick swap.
It wouldn’t be totally shocking for a trade to be made. At least in 2021 and 2022, the Grizzlies have a ton of young players for whom they needed data, and they wanted to see what they did — especially for 2022, where they had won 56 games.
Intriguing targets
From the trade target mailbag, these names piqued my interest the most as potential, realistic targets.
Cam Johnson
Cam Johnson is an intriguing trade target not just for the Grizzlies, but league-wide. He’s a 6’9” wing that can fit on any basketball team. He’s a knockdown shooter that has now shown the ability to get his buckets as a go-to guy in Brooklyn’s offense. While shooting is his premium skill, he’s a smart ball-mover and good rebounder. With a rather favorable $23M contract, he’s a desirable target for any team looking for wing depth.
The fit for Johnson and the Grizzlies would be great. He’s a veteran sharpshooter with positional versatility between the 3 and the 4. He could enhance the size in your starting lineup at the 3, while sliding down to the 4 in closing lineups. The thing leaving me from saying it’s a “golden” fit is the defense. He’s not someone that could be a big-time point-of-attack defender, a necessity when you have to go through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, and Anthony Edwards — among others — to make it out of the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies could get aggressive. They have Marcus Smart, whose expiring contract this summer could be appealing to the Nets. They have all their picks and swaps. Cam Johnson fits the timeframe of the Grizzlies’ core of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jackson Jr., and is a realistic player that could launch Memphis into the inner circle of tier 1 title-contenders. However, it may involve a young player to sweeten the deal to get it done, as the Nets have wanted a young prospect back in talks.
At the end of the day though, I’m not fully convinced Sean Marks wants to trade Cam Johnson. He could wait until the summer with open roster spots for a bigger haul, but he’s also the perfect player to pair next to someone like a Cooper Flagg — or for the next star they trade for. On the Grizzlies’ side, it’s calculated. It’d be tough to keep Cam Johnson at his money when Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr. are lined up for extensions. Maybe, the Grizzlies could also see Cam Johnson as insurance for the “oh shoot, Santi Aldama just got an $80M offer sheet somewhere” scenario. Nonetheless, I’m not completely sold on Cam Johnson being dealt this trade deadline.
Collin Sexton
Sexton is a young bulldog combo guard that’s capable of scoring in bunches. The Jazz may see him as a piece, but also Danny Ainge is known to extract value wherever he can, and Sexton might have the most trade value of any of their veterans aside from Lauri Markkanen.
You’d have to be sold on Sexton as a backup point guard. It’d have to involve Smart, if I had to guess. Sexton would be a younger, more durable option. Though his fit next to Morant makes the backcourt quite small in lineups, he gives them more punch in the event Ja isn’t available.
The Grizzlies could target Sexton if they need a starting point guard type player in the event Ja Morant isn’t available for a game. While Smart is essentially the same type of player, his availability has been sporadic as well. The Grizzlies could also have Sexton as a trade chip in the summer for a cleaner positional fit.
I just don’t see the Grizzlies trading for Sexton as his skillset doesn’t quite resonate on this team. He’s intriguing for sure, but it’s just very unlikely.
Coby White
White emerged as an intriguing, creating combo guard last season for the Chicago Bulls. Over his past two seasons with Chicago, he’s averaged 18.9 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.1 rebounds on 37.2% shooting from 3 on 7.5 attempts per game.
White fits the similar build to Sexton but with more size. It could potentially not cost Smart. Could they do something with Konchar, two smaller salaries, and their 2025 first-round pick? I’m not totally sure.
While White is more of a combo guard, his size could allow for 3-guard lineups the Grizzlies typically deploy. However, if Luke Kennard and/or Marcus Smart are kept in this hypothetical trade, they’d be rather small in the backcourt. In addition, how would White fare defensively? He’s not an impactful defender by the metrics — never possessing a positive defensive EPM, and falling in the 2nd percentile in this statistic (-2.1), per dunksandthrees.
If the Grizzlies are looking for more firepower and creation off the bench, he’s a guy to definitely target. The Bulls, though, don’t necessarily have to trade him — or could wait until the offseason to do so when the fate of their pick is decided.
De’Andre Hunter
De’Andre Hunter is having his best season of his career, and in the process has become a real candidate to win the 6th Man of the Year award. He’s scoring at a career-best clip of 18.9 points per game on 38.2% shooting from 3.
On paper, Hunter is a clean fit. He’s a big wing that can toggle between the 3 and the 4. He’s an accurate, willing shooter. Similar to Johnson, he can start at the 3 in a massive lineup while shifting up to the 4 in pivotal moments. My questions about his game: He’s an infrequent stocks generator (31st and 6th percentile in steal and block rate, respectively), passer (24th percentile in assist rate), and rebounder for his size (41st percentile in defensive rebounding rate and 27th in offensive rebounding rate) — stats found via dunksandthrees. He has good dimensions — 6’8” with a 7’2” wingspan — but he’s always trended as a neutral-impact defender.
In a swap with Smart and Hunter, they’re sacrificing an asset in the possession game for more size and shooting. It could work, and I’d be intrigued. Would Atlanta? They could, but they can’t bottom out after Jalen Johnson’s season-ending injury, since their pick belongs to San Antonio. They would be better equipped to shop him in the summer, where they can at least have a mini-tank in 2026 — if that’s the path they wanted to take, I remain bullish on Atlanta’s short-to-medium term.
Bruce Brown
In his updated Trade Deadline preview, the Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington called out the question of a “Marcus Smart Escape Hatch Trade.” Extending on that question, the Grizzlies could find a combo guard with a similar salary that’s an expiring contract for this summer.
Enter Bruce Brown.
Returning from an offseason knee injury, Bruce Brown has averaged 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and a steal in 19.9 minutes per game across 16 outings. His shooting efficiency is showing rust, as he is making 48.5% of his 2’s and 32.3% of his 3’s.
On the flip side, Brown has championship experience that the Grizzlies coveted with Smart. He’s not the defender or playmaker that Smart is, but Brown is a winning player that can do a bit of everything with the small things — screening, cutting, and playmaking.
He was an integral part of the Nuggets’ championship run. Can he make a similar impact wherever his next team is? Maybe!
A potential framework could be Smart, Konchar and the 2025 first-round pick for Bruce Brown and the Raptors’ second-round pick (currently 38th, via Portland).
Lonzo Ball
This target would be rather risky with Lonzo Ball’s extensive injury history since 2022. He’s played 29 games this season — averaging 7.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 34.8% from 3. He’s still a frequent event generator, as he’s in the 96th percentile per dunksandthrees.
This type of trade would probably be the lowest return the Grizzlies could do for Smart. Maybe just a straight-up player swap with no picks?
Yes, Lonzo Ball does have injury risk — although he’s almost played as many games this season as Marcus Smart has played as a Grizzly. However, the fact is rather clear. He’s a wicked smart 6’6” guard that can play on the wing. His processing on both sides of the floor is impeccable. He offers more upside as a shooter.
If the Grizzlies don’t trade for him, and the Bulls can’t find a deal, could Memphis target him as a buyout candidate? Apron teams will be restricted due to his $20M salary — in this new CBA world, teams in the first apron cannot sign a buyout market player that made more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (roughly anywhere between $12-14M), and second-apron teams cannot make a buyout signing period. That would be a home run.
Andrew Wiggins
When the Warriors looked like a destination for Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins is an obvious salary-matcher. If that was the case, the Grizzlies could’ve put together a package of Smart, Konchar, and this year’s first-round pick for Wiggins as part of a multi-team deal.
Nonetheless, Butler doesn’t want an extension there.
Wiggins would’ve been perfect.
Big wing
Improved shooting — 37.9% from 3
Championship experience — was honestly their second-best player in 2022
Veteran
Medium-term deal in the books
The addition of Andrew Wiggins would catapult the Grizzlies into the tier 1 inner circle of contenders. However, the Jimmy Butler saga will have a major say in a Wiggins possibility.
What I’m watching for
Belief in the young wing depth. The Grizzlies have 3 wings with real high-level starter upside: Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson, Vince Williams. However, none of these players have played playoff basketball. Do the Grizzlies target a veteran wing to offset any potential experience-related struggles? They’ve already shown apprehension of including Jackson and Wells in a Butler trade, which seems to show how highly they think of their young wings.
Marcus Smart at the trade deadline. The Grizzlies haven’t really had the chance to see the Marcus Smart experience in totality. Can he stay healthy for the team to see its vision through, though? That’s a real question for them to ponder this deadline, as his salary may be a necessity in big trade discussions. Something I’ve kept in the middle — not quite the back — of my mind: the Grizzlies could clean their books up to get ready for extensions with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama. Trading Smart for an expiring contract could help accomplish that mission — or they could use him to acquire a cleaner, more available fit.
Does a team go after John Konchar? I don’t think many people quite comprehend how good a team is when John Konchar is the 15th man. A team could identify him as a fit in their rotation. He has a nose for the ball on the glass, in passing lanes, and as a defensive events creator. The shooting is a bit of a bummer (31.1% from 3 this year, and under 34% in each of the past 3 seasons). Nonetheless, he’s an efficient player that fits in a team construct, and a team could target him if they need serviceable veteran depth.
Can they get active in the buyout market? Perk of the Grizzlies being under the tax, if they clear an open roster spot, they don’t have restrictions on signing a buyout player. If they do clear an open roster spot, I’d like to see them bring in one more veteran — even if not on the permanent roster — as emergency depth come playoff time.
Overall Trade Deadline Take
With the trade deadline, I’m at the line of “cool if they do, cool if they don’t” on a trade. This Grizzlies team is good — inching closer to the Phil Jackson’s “40 before 20” contender theory. Marcus Smart and Vince Williams Jr. are on the way back. The following 11 is incredibly deep:
Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, Brandon Clarke, Santi Aldama, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, GG Jackson, and Vince Williams.
This doesn’t even include guys like Jake LaRavia, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Jay Huff that have been productive this season, when their numbers are called.
With that said, health and experience are real with this team. Morant hasn’t played 5 games in a row in quite some time. Smart has not been on the court much as a Grizzly. The Wells, Williams, Jackson trio is young and doesn’t have playoff scars.
If they want to trade Smart for a healthier, or even more cost-effective, player, that’s totally cool. Or if they want to explore bringing in another veteran, that’s cool too.
But that brings me to an overarching point, perhaps a rant… I see people suggest the notion of needing more veterans and not relying on youth. However, all the trades I see people put out there involve the Grizzlies losing a veteran. In addition, if you want more veterans, especially of quality, it may require a young guy being shipped out — or even have diminished roles on this year’s teams. Are people cool with this happening to GG Jackson, Jaylen Wells, or Vince Williams Jr? I’m not sure — GG and Jaylen, specifically, have intriguing amounts of upside. The same people wishing for more veterans and for Kleiman to pull the trigger on a massive trade are likely the same ones online complaining that Jackson, Wells, or Williams are not getting more playing time — or are dealt.
Anyways, back to the program. This trade deadline has become incredibly interesting with the amount of fireworks we already have. Zach Kleiman’s front office isn’t the reactionary kind, but from reporting — and from past intentions for players like Kevin Durant, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges — he typically takes an aggressive approach for guys they think can help them win a championship.
Will the Memphis Grizzlies join the fray of teams making aggressive moves to bolster their championship chances? We’ll see.
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