Memphis Grizzlies Trade Jeff Green To Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers were able to bolster their SF spot, trading for Jeff Green of the Memphis Grizzlies, sending Lance Stephenson and a future first-round pick to Memphis.

The NBA Trade Deadline is now officially behind us, as there wasn’t as much activity as rumors would have you believe would occur. Right before the deadline passed, the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers got a deal consummated.

There were some rumors that the Clippers would blow up their core and trade Blake Griffin in a blockbuster deal. That deal never came, as the Clippers instead opted to shore up their small forward spot, acquiring Jeff Green from the Grizzlies. Heading to Memphis in the deal is mercurial shooting guard Lance Stephenson.

Multiple sources broke the trade, as Dan Woike of the OC Register, Marc Stein of ESPN and Zach Lowe of Grantland all had sources tell them the deal was going to happen.

In addition to Stephenson, the Grizzlies will acquire a first-round pick from the Clippers in the 2019 NBA Draft, albeit a very heavily protected one according to Lowe.

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Stephenson never fit in with the Clippers, as his playing style did not mesh well with the other players on the roster. He was never able to find his groove in Los Angeles, much like he was unable to do with the Charlotte Hornets last season. He may find Memphis to be an easier place to play, as his style will fight right into the hard-nosed, defensive mindset that the Grizzlies play with.

Also for the Grizzlies, this was just another added future asset. In addition to the first rounder from the Clippers, the Grizzlies acquired four second round picks in other trades made this week. Stephenson was someone the Clippers were feverishly trying to trade leading up to the deadline, so to get him with a first round pick in exchange for someone the Grizzlies wanted to move is a solid addition.

For the Clipper, Green will give them another option at small forward and on the wing, an area they have seemingly been trying to improve for seasons. He will not get as many opportunities with the Clippers as he did with the Grizzlies, as he will be competing with Paul Pierce, Luc Mbah A Moute and West Johnson instead of just Matt Barnes.

Next: NBA Trade Deadline Live Tracker

Things will only get more complicated for Green once Blake Griffin returns from injury, but he is a solid depth addition for the Clippers, while the Grizzlies continue to add future assets for a rebuild that will eventually be coming.