Breaking down Grizzlies, Suns pick swap dealing
The Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns made bets on themselves with each other in picks-based trade
The Memphis Grizzlies made a trade. No, not the Dillon Brooks sign-and-trade. Details there are pending. The Grizzlies made a picks-based trade, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnaworski:
The Suns receive: 2025 New Orleans Pelicans second-round pick and 2 second-round picks via Memphis (2028 and 2029).
The Grizzlies receive: the rights to 2 first-round pick swaps in 2024 and 2030.
With the pick swaps, the Suns already have a deal in place with the Washington Wizards for swap rights in 2024, 2026, 2028, and 2030. Where the Grizzlies come in? They will have the right to swap the lesser of the 2 picks with Phoenix. For a “visual representation,” if the draft order goes:
Washington: 5
Phoenix: 19
Grizzlies: 21
The Grizzlies would get the 19th pick.
Or if it’s somehow:
Phoenix: 15
Washington: 18
Grizzlies: 23
The order will go: Washington, Memphis, Phoenix.
Both teams are making bets.
The Suns are betting on themselves being good enough where this trade is just acquiring second-round picks for free. It’s good business on their part. They will be in “second apron” heck for the foreseeable future with their expensive quartet of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Deandre Ayton. With restrictions on the mid-level exception, the buyout market, and salary aggregation comes murky team-building avenues. These second-round picks serve as either trade sweeteners alongside a salary, or to add cheap young depth with more controllable futures.
The Grizzlies are betting on themselves being better than the Phoenix Suns down the road. Despite the Suns’ blockbuster moves the past 6 months, they’re incredibly top-heavy with star players that haven’t had the clean bill of health. While their signings are nice (and perhaps a bit overhyped), their depth doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence if any of their KD-Booker-Beal pieces have to miss time.
For 2030 specifically, we may not know where those players will be at that time — as Durant will be in his 40’s, and Beal will be in his late 30’s. That pick swap could be a valuable team-building tool as the Grizzlies’ core enters their 30’s — depending on Washington’s status by the new decade.
The Grizzlies already like trading up with their picks, so consider this a possible trade-up a step ahead — with the possibility of climbing higher.
The Grizzlies did acquire a player in this trade, as Isaiah Todd is coming to Memphis. His status is unknown for this team, but Summer League could be on his radar. He’s only played 135 minutes in 18 games in 2 seasons with the Wizards — primarily playing with their G League affiliate. It’s a fair flier, as he’s a 6’10” forward that can shoot. It’s more likely than not he’s waived before the season.
So, this trade is rather simple despite the weird verbiage on the pick swaps. It’s rather simple: the Grizzlies are looking to squeeze possible assets for a team trying to build around the margins. It could be nothing, but it could be something. Nonetheless, it’s a savvy move — one truly for the NBA sickos like me.