Courtney Lee Trade Signals A Moving On Phase For Grizzlies

With the Memphis Grizzlies trading Courtney Lee, it could signal the beginning of a rebuilding stage. Where do the returning pieces fit and is there more to come on the trade front?

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded shooting guard Courtney Lee to the Charlotte Hornets for forward P.J. Hairston. As a part of a three-team trade, guard Brian Roberts will go from the Hornets to the Miami Heat, and the Heat will trade forward Chris Andersen two second round picks to the Grizzlies, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The most important facet of this trade comes from the fact that the Grizzlies are trading Lee away. Lee is on an expiring contract worth $5.7 million and had been a good wing piece for the Grizzlies this season. He is averaging 10.0 points per game in 29.2 minutes per game this season.

Trading Lee away may be the first of several moves that the Grizzlies are involved in over the next 48 hours, before the NBA’s trade deadline expires. Lee was going to be a pivotal piece for the Grizzlies playoff chances. It leads one to believe that Grizzlies don’t think they can contend anymore, which their chances weren’t helped with Marc Gasol‘s injury, and could lead to trading stars Mike Conley and Zach Randolph.

The trade likely signals a movement into rebuild mode, and the Grizzlies get a nice start by acquiring Hairston on the wing. Memphis has both Matt Barnes and Jeff Green to play small forward, but both are on expiring contracts. The move allows Hairston to get plenty of playing time and a fresh start with the Grizzlies.

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Hairston, 23, has untapped potential at this point in his NBA career. He started 43 of the 48 games he played for the Hornets this season, but has only averaged 19.8 minutes per game. Hairston hasn’t shown much on either side of the court, despite having prime opportunities to as a starter.

He is averaging 6.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, with his true shooting percentage at an underwhelming 48.6 percent to go with a horrific PER of 7.5. It’s easy to see why the Hornets declined Hairston’s first of two team options on his rookie contract, as reported by the Charlotte Observer, which means that Hairston will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The 29 remaining games for the Grizzlies will prove to be crucial to Hairston’s future in the NBA. If the Hairston can prove to be an NBA player, the Grizzlies and Hairston may sit at the negotiating table following the season. Otherwise, a failed effort may devalue Hairston and make him an end-of-the-bench type of guy or relegate him to the NBA’s Developmental League.

Andersen, 37, will be a presence for the Grizzlies due to Gasol’s injury. Andersen is known as a rim protector and rebounder. In seven games with the Heat this season, Andersen has recorded a 6.6 block percentage and 14.2 rebound percentage.

He is on an expiring $5 million contract which means that he is a short-term fill-in in the front court. The Grizzlies could opt to trade Andersen before Thursday’s deadline passes, but due to their shortage in the front court and his healthy contract they may be best suited to keeping Andersen.

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Adding two second round picks doesn’t do all that much for the Grizzlies. However, some teams have found some real gems in the second round. Manu Ginobili, Draymond Green, Paul Millsap, DeAndre Jordan and the Grizzlies’ own Marc Gasol were all second round picks and have had their careers blossom. The second round picks could be valuable picks, and are non-guaranteed contracts if nothing else.

What’s Next For Memphis?

The silver lining is that the Grizzlies have officially become sellers as the trade deadline looms. Despite sitting fifth in the Western Conference standings, the Grizzlies may soon plummet out of the playoffs if they are to continue their trend of making deals.

Conley has an expiring contract and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. There are plenty of teams interested in the floor general’s services, and the Grizzlies can likely get a nice package for Conley.

Randolph has one more year on his deal. The 34-year-old has one year left on his deal following this season. He is a valuable two-way player that can help a contending team, and the extra year of team control could net the Grizzlies a valuable package.

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The Grizzlies don’t get a lot of long-term flexibility in the Lee trade. However, it is a signal to teams that they are willing to move on from what they have. They will look to rebuild or re-tool, and there has to be a belief that they have more moves on the way.