Trade Target Mailbag: Who could Grizzlies target at deadline? (Part 1)
I take Memphis Grizzlies trade targets suggested from Twitter/X, and tier them up to gauge who the best pickups would be at the trade deadline. Part 1...
The trade deadline is a week from today, and it should be interesting to see how the Memphis Grizzlies approach it. As projected today, they’ll be in the 2nd apron — and getting out of it is essential to avoid major competitive implications. In addition, they have an intriguing expiring contract (Xavier Tillman), a looming $14.8M team option this summer (Luke Kennard), and two players receiving substantial salary bumps next season (John Konchar and Ziaire Williams going from $6M combined to $6M each).
The Grizzlies have their core with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. Marcus Smart and Vince Williams Jr. are seen as pieces that supplant the core, given recent commitments through traded assets and extensions for both players. If not used as trade assets, Brandon Clarke, Steven Adams, and Luke Kennard are players that elevate the core and round out its playoff depth. Now, it’s about working around the margins to best position this team for 2024-25 and beyond.
Last year, I went through a fun exercise where I take suggestions from Grizzlies Twitter/X on who they think the team should go after at the trade deadline. Then, I tier them up in a 2-part series — one with players I’m not that interested in (welcome to that!), and the other for realistic, intriguing options.
So after 55 player suggestions, here’s where I land.
Nope, not interested:
Dwight Powell, Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish, James Wiseman, Javale McGee, Kenrich Williams, Aaron Wiggins, Chris Boucher, Jordan Clarkson, Grant Williams
Dwight Powell is an average center and has been a fixture of the Dallas Mavericks organization for quite some time. With a newly-inked contract (3 years, $12M last offseason), I’m not sold on having him on the books right now.
Jaxson Hayes and Cam Reddish seemed like good reclamation projects the Lakers have succeeded with in the LeBron/AD regime. Both options are rather inconsistent. Hayes can’t even solidify himself in a rather open big man rotation.
James Wiseman has too big of a contract, and he’s not the player to shell out assets for. I guess, worth noting, he fits inside Morant’s $12.4M disabled player exception spot — if the Grizzlies elect to open a roster spot to utilize it. Could it be a good flier? Maybe, but his lack of positive impact (hasn’t had a NET rating lower than -13 in his career, per Cleaning the Glass) doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence.
Javale McGee is someone I don’t see the Grizzlies interested in dealing, nor do I see the Kings surrendering him.
Kenrich Williams and Aaron Wiggins are fine bench pieces. OKC likely isn’t giving them up without an asset or a needle-mover coming in — and I don’t think the Grizzlies should give up neither one of those pieces for them.
Chris Boucher is making $10M next year, a number relatively too high — given his overall impact, fit, and the state of the Grizzlies’ cap sheet.
Grant Williams has had a rocky tenure with the Mavericks thus far. His skillset isn’t a tantalizing fit with the Grizzlies. He’s too undersized for a forward spot with this team, and his contract (3 years, roughly $40M) doesn’t make it worth the deal.
Jordan Clarkson is a popular name, but the fit just isn’t good. He’s more of a score-first combo guard. His salary number ($23M) makes it complicated to match — would need Kennard and at least 2 other players, without mentioning Utah potentially wanting a 1st for him. His 3-point shooting (30.1% this season), defense, and age (will be 32 next season) all don’t move as a worthwhile trade target.
Ok player, not a clean fit
PJ Washington, Obi Toppin, Saddiq Bey, Kevin Huerter, Goga Bitadze, Keldon Johnson, Ivica Zubac, Mason Plumlee, DeAndre Hunter, Buddy Hield
PJ Washington is a good player, but he’ll be making more money than both Adams and Clarke next season. Is he worth pairing one of those 2 players, a young wing, and draft capital to get? He’s an interesting fit, but the Grizzlies could get more with that sort of trade package.
Obi Toppin’s availability wouldn’t be surprising — after trading for Pascal, and with developing Jarace Walker. Trading for him would be tricky, as he’s a restricted free agent this offseason, and it’d be tough to match any offers. Same goes for Saddiq Bey with his restricted free agency. Why give up assets for someone you may not be able to keep after this season, especially in a gap year?
I want to pose this with Kevin Huerter — how much better is he than Luke Kennard, if that’s even the case?
Their impact levels out around the same. Huerter gets a boost in his raw numbers, because of the role. If you equate it to per-36 impact dating back to last season:
Huerter: 17.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.4 turnovers, shooting splits (2’s/3’s/FT’s) of 59.6/39.0/73.7
Kennard: 15.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.1 blocks, 1.3 turnovers, shooting splits (2’s/3’s/FT’s) of 47.4/47.4/93.1
Huerter offers more live-dribble pop inside the arc and is classified more as a “really good” shooter. Meanwhile, Kennard doesn’t have the same prowess inside the arc, but is an “elite” 3-point shooter.
Huerter will also be making $2M more than Kennard next season, with another year (a hair under $18M) tacked on. While he’s a good player, there’s not much of gap between him and Kennard to justify a move — when assessing the impact and the contract implications.
Goga Bitadze would be a good trade target with potential to grow into a starting center role — averaging 7.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 blocks on 59.9% shooting in 31 games as a starter in Orlando this season. He’s an unrestricted free agent this summer, and other teams could outbid the Grizzlies.
Keldon Johnson is a solid player, a bit more undersized than appeared (6’5”). I don’t foresee San Antonio trading him at the moment, unless it’s for a haul, as they have tons of flexibility to work with while Victor Wembanyama is on a rookie contract.
Ivica Zubac and Mason Plumlee unfortunately keep trading places on the injury report, so the Clippers’ center depth hasn’t been fully optimized all season. Zubac is currently out with a calf strain, so he and Plumlee both are likely off limits — nor do I see them as players worth surrendering assets for.
De’Andre Hunter isn’t a bad target. His price tag is rather perplexing. He’s averaging 14.6 points and 4 rebounds, while shooting 40.3% from 3 on 4.8 attempts per game as a 6’8” wing. The “3-and-D” label may oversell his defense — possessing a -1.2 defensive EPM this season, per dunksandthrees. A trade for him would signal the Grizzlies — or any team — betting on maintained offensive efficiency with a defensive boost in a better infrastructure.
Buddy Hield is a good player and excellent shooter. He just falls under the umbrella of “don’t trade assets for expiring contracts” for this season.
Improbable reunions
Mike Conley, Tyus Jones
Mike Conley is a glue for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and a staple for their young core. Not going to happen. I’m also so glad Minnesota fans adore him.
The Wizards want a first-round pick in exchange for Tyus Jones. Why should the Grizzlies give up a 1st for a player they traded a 1st with last summer… and would be a rental?
Injury Woes
Mitchell Robinson, Jonathan Isaac, Robert Williams
Robinson is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. Even then, I don’t see the Knicks trading him.
Isaac is finally healthy and has made a thunderous impact for the Magic — as they’re 16.2 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor (99th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass). Betting on him would be a massive one on his long-term health, after missing 2 seasons with an ACL injury. However, he’d make such a good fit next to Jaren Jackson Jr. in a limited role.
Williams is out for the season with a torn ligament in his season. With his recent surgery, and the ailments he suffered in Boston, a trade for him would be a huge risk.
Interesting young players
Jalen Smith, Marcus Sasser, DayRon Sharpe, AJ Griffin, Paul Reed
Someone has to be available between Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson, right? Smith is having a quietly sensational season from an efficiency standpoint — 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds on 62.0% shooting (6.5 attempts per game / 70.7% on 2’s) and 46.9% from 3 (2.4 attempts per game) in just 18.1 minutes per game.
Marcus Sasser came out the gates hot to start his rookie season, but his role has been diminished in the midst of Monty Williams’ rotational shuffle to spark something for the Pistons. He’s probably not attainable this early into his rookie contract.
Who knows what the Brooklyn Nets want, truthfully. However, with Sharpe, they have a reliable backup big man who doesn’t impact the books all that much.
AJ Griffin is somehow out of the Hawks’ rotation. It doesn’t make sense. He’s young, and he showed intriguing flashes last season. The team is also so mid and could use some juice. New York reportedly has interest in him, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto — CAA connections between the two parties.
Paul Reed likely is not going anywhere. He’s somewhat of a 76er cult hero, and Joel Embiid’s bonafide backup center — matching a 3-year, $24M offer sheet from the Utah Jazz bolsters the notion. Reed would be a fascinating “potential starting center next to Jaren Jackson Jr.” candidate down the road, though.
Keeping an eye out… for cap reasons
Damian Jones, AJ Green, Cedi Osman
The Grizzlies need to clean their books a bit for the 2024-25 season. These 3 are low-cost names that could be attainable within the next week.
In his trade guide, ESPN’s Bobby Marks floated the idea of the Grizzlies trading Xavier Tillman to Cleveland for Damian Jones and 2 future second-round draft picks. The Grizzlies would essentially be doing the deal for the picks, as Jones has a small expiring contract — though he could be slightly useful as a big body for the remainder of the season.
The Milwaukee Bucks need defense — and the Grizzlies could offer John Konchar and Tillman available in deals. AJ Green is a fascinating name received here. The past two seasons, he’s shooting 41.7% from 3 on 2.7 attempts per game across 63 games. He has 2 years and $4.4M left on his contract after next season, but is non-guaranteed for both years — meaning he could be waived without it affecting the books. Otherwise, he’s a cheap form of emergency outside shooting.
Cedi Osman for Ziaire Williams seems like a solid challenge trade. The Grizzlies get a veteran wing off the bench, who also happens to be an expiring contract this season. The Spurs get a flier on Ziaire Williams before he hits restricted free agency in 2025. Don’t know where picks would go, but would be a small win-win trade for the divisional foes.
Unattainable, a bit too rich
Clint Capela, Jarrett Allen, Dorian Finney-Smith, Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton, Jalen Duren, Kyle Kuzma, Bruce Brown, Tari Eason, Herb Jones, Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels
Clint Capela is making $20.6M and $22.2 this and next season — meaning the Grizzlies would need 1 of Adams/Kennard/Clarke + a combination of young wings to get a deal done. With that price tag and his decline, the Grizzlies would be better off betting on Adams or Clarke at a significantly lower rate.
On Jarrett Allen, Substack NBA Insider Marc Stein dropped this tidbit in a “Trade Season” column:
The Cavaliers, per Haynes, likewise have no interest in fielding trade interest in Jarrett Allen leading up to the Feb. 8 deadline.
Jarrett Allen is very high on my “guys I’d trade the 2024 pick for” list, though.
Nets time! Dorian Finney-Smith’s asking price is reportedly a rotational player and a 1st-round pick, per Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto. Would Kennard and a 1st be too much? In my mind, yeah. Adams and 1st? If you want Jackson to be the full-time 5, that could do, but no idea. In addition, do you want Finney-Smith to eat minutes from Vince Williams Jr. or even GG Jackson? Fair questions all around.
I’d be down for Cam Johnson, but there’s no inclination the Nets want to trade him — and his $25M annual price tag next season sets foundation for a rather steep trade package. Scotto also reported the Nets more than likely keeping and re-signing Claxton this summer.
The Pistons won’t trade Jalen Duren, as he’s a part of the core. However, if the Grizzlies have a higher pick than the Pistons, then I’ll throw a fun pick swap hypothetical out there.
Kyle Kuzma’s price has apparently been driven down from “2 1st-round picks” — which is enticing. However, his $25M salary makes for a significant matcher this deadline, same goes for his $23M this offseason. Good news, his contract descends in salary each year until 2026-27. The price could be too rich regardless, and the Grizzlies would need to gauge if Kuzma is the final piece to the puzzle. (Spoiler for part 2: Kuzma isn’t my favorite Wizards trade target).
Bruce Brown is reportedly going for a 1st-round pick after the trade for Pascal Siakam, per Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer. The Grizzlies won’t — or shouldn’t — meet the asking price of a contender due to his high salary this season and next ($22M this season, $23M team option in 2024-25).
Tari Eason isn’t going anywhere unless it’s for a star return, per The Athletic.
I’m sure the 29 other fanbases rushed to the trade machine after The Action Network’s Matt Moore (aka Hardwood Paroxysm) reported the Pelicans “are thought to be open to moving” Herb Jones. Marc Stein refuted the report rather quickly about Herb Jones. If Herb Jones was available, the price would be so steep — and would swing the contention landscape league-wide.
The Wolves are not going to trade Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid, two foundational players for Minnesota’s plans. They’re vital pieces for the team’s culture. Nonetheless, I’d pay the Timberwolves a pretty penny to make Naz Reid the Grizzlies’ starting center — and they’d laugh, say “Naz Reid,” and hang up.
If you made a suggestion, thank you very much. And if your suggestion made this post, I’m sorry and don’t take it personal.
I’m down to 8 names. In a few days, I’ll break down the 8 names, why the Grizzlies could/should or couldn’t/shouldn’t make a deal, and what it could take to acquire them.
Stats found on basketball-reference, salary information on Cleaning the Glass.
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