9 thoughts on Memphis Grizzlies trade deadline

The Memphis Grizzlies flipped 3 players into more cap flexibility and up to 6 draft assets over the past week -- setting the landscape for a paramount offseason.

The trade deadline is officially over. So to sum up the Memphis Grizzlies trade deadline:

• Steven Adams to the Houston Rockets for Victor Oladipo (waived) and 3 second-round draft picks

• Xavier Tillman to the Boston Celtics for Lamar Stevens and 2 future second-round draft picks

• 3-team trade: Grizzlies receive Yuta Watanabe, Chimezie Metu, and a pick swap from the Suns, Suns receive Royce O’Neale and David Roddy, and the Nets receive Jordan Goodwin, Keita Bates-Diop, and 3 second-round picks (from Suns) — as reported by Duane Rankin from AZCentral.

Let’s hash out the recap and thoughts on these moves and what lies ahead for the Grizzlies with a ‘191.’

1 theme: flexibility

The moves don’t move the needle much for this season, but it helps out their books a little bit. They acquire more draft assets that can be used to bolster their roster for next season and beyond. They shed $12M off next year’s high payroll, and they replace Roddy with more size and shooting from the forward spot (though with a bit less upside).

However, you can’t really judge this trade deadline until you see the next dominos next offseason. Now the Grizzlies have optionality and flexibility on how to build this team going forward. If the Grizzlies are able to leverage this into building a formidable contender around its big 3 of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, then these moves will look savvier than they do now.

9 thoughts

1. David Roddy was the odd man out on the wings. I was a little bit surprised since Ziaire Williams and Jake LaRavia seemed like the odd men out. Roddy was solid — at times, he could leverage his physicality into powerful drives, while his inconsistent explosiveness hindered him. Could it also be a sign the Grizzlies garnered the most value? Perhaps, who knows. Nonetheless, it’s tough to see Roddy go, as he provided flashes and had stepped up in different roles and situations since his arrival.

2. Yuta Watanabe and Chimezie Metu were the players in return for David Roddy. They are more likely to be on the roster for the remainder of the season. Though his shooting has slipped this season (44.4% down to 32%), he offers promise of shooting with size, and he also provides hustle on the glass and defensively. Metu gives the Grizzlies’ some short-term center depth, as the 6’10” big man is on an expiring contract on the veteran’s minimum. The Grizzlies also received a pick swap, details TBD.

3. With this wing situation, the Grizzlies could get more data on Jake LaRavia once he gets healthy. He’s only played 536 minutes across 46 games in NBA career — for perspective, Ziaire and Roddy have each played over 2,300 minutes. Obviously, LaRavia needs to capitalize on the opportunities. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies are interested in him due to growing assertiveness offensively.

4. The Grizzlies have waived Victor Oladipo, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. This was the likely outcome for Oladipo, who’s been recovering from a patella tear all season. His contract won’t have an implications on the cap sheet, as he was an expiring contract this season.

5. Pending the rest of the details, the Grizzlies could waive 1 of Lamar Stevens, Yuta Watanabe, or Chimezie Metu to make room for 1 more spot — likely to convert GG Jackson’s contract to a standard contract. My money would be on Stevens being waived.

6. John Konchar and Ziaire Williams were two rumored trade targets this deadline, and are still in Memphis. Keep tabs on them — they’ll see salary jumps this summer, going from $6 combined to $6M each next season. That could be an intriguing trade package — along with assets — to bring in an upgrade while opening up roster spots.

7. My main idea of the trade deadline was about gearing up for the 2024-25 season. The player that was a barometer for that was Luke Kennard, who has a $14.8M team option this summer. The Grizzlies could very well use his $14.8M expiring contract as a trade chip this summer. However, it’s just as likely the Grizzlies opt out of his team option and extend him with a lower average annual salary with more years. Something to take note of for offseason planning, especially if other moves surrounding their decision timeframe.

8. The Grizzlies acquired their assets. Through the trades for Xavier Tillman, Steven Adams, and David Roddy, they’ve picked up 5 second-round picks and a pick swap (again, pending details). Two of those second-round picks are projected to be in this year’s class, an opportunity for the Grizzlies to utilize it to pick up another 2-way player. Going into next offseason, they’ll have all of their 1st-round picks and up to 8 second-round picks to trade. It’s solid asset accumulation for a team looking to bolster its roster around the core.

9. The big element of the offseason: they’re trying to duck the second-apron of the luxury tax, due to the competitive implications at stake. They moved further from it by trading Adams’ $12M for an expiring. Metu and Stevens don’t have any impact on next year’s books. Watanabe makes about $100,000 less than Roddy. At the moment, the Grizzlies are projected to be in the luxury tax — based off calculations, with projection of GG Jackson getting the same deal as Vince Williams Jr., and with the 1st-round pick. However, they have a bit more flexible to bolster its roster, even if they’re in the luxury tax.

Grizzlies 2024-25 salary, per Spotrac

1 Question: Now what lies ahead for the Grizzlies?

The Grizzlies have their flexibility now, as they’re still pretty far from the 2nd apron. They also have 5 second-round picks to add to their treasure chest — as a reminder of what they’ve done with 2nd-round picks:

Rather significant.

Bigger point, the Grizzlies will likely have a lottery pick that’s very well heading towards the top-10, their best trade chip in quite some time.

In addition, the Grizzlies will have a $12.6M trade exception generated from the Steven Adams’ trade that they’ll have access to through February 1st, 2025.

Given these resources, and the contracts they can cobble together to upgrade, the Grizzlies have the resources to bolster their roster — turning this nightmare season into a gap year that catapults them towards the trajectory.

Now, it’s all about what all these assets ultimately mean for the Memphis Grizzlies — primary with how they utilize them. Given these resources and the urgency ahead for them, it’s shaping up to be a massive offseason for the Memphis Grizzlies.

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