Memphis Grizzlies: Point guard trade scenarios

The NBA trade deadline is less than a month away. Let’s see what moves the Memphis Grizzlies could make at each position, starting with points guards.

It is no secret that the Memphis Grizzlies are floundering this season. Sitting at 13-27 is not even close to where anyone had them pegged to be through 40 games, and with Mike Conley on the mend, there are no signs of things getting better.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Grizzlies may need to find some options to make a move that improves their franchise outlook. Let’s look at every position on the team and some moves the front office could make, starting with the point guard role.

There are essentially two paths the Grizzlies could go down: make a trade that helps their point guard rotation improve next season, or trade their point guard assets away now for draft picks or young players.

In theory, they could trade for a decent lead ball-handler to fill the void left by Conley’s injury, but there isn’t much of a reason for Memphis to attempt to win more games this season, so we will ignore this option.

Focusing on next season

The first option for the Memphis Grizzlies to consider is putting their focus on the 2018-19 season. Marc Gasol and Mike Conley will still be under contract and healthy, and most of the roster will be back, so there is a reason to believe that the Grizz could be a solid team.

However, Andrew Harrison and Mario Chalmers simply aren’t good enough to get it done at backup point guard, so the Grizzlies could look to trade for a point guard to fill that backup void.

This is a win-win trade if you ask me. The Philadephia 76ers are looking to open up as much cap room as possible next summer to sign a star, and Jerryd Bayless is on the books for about $9 million in 2018-19. Brandan Wright, on the other hand, comes off the books at the end of this season. The Sixers get cap relief and all they need to give up is Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.

The Memphis Grizzlies, on the other hand, turn an expiring contract into both a backup point guard for next season and a young player that could end up being in their rotation in the future. Both teams may be happy with this one.

Another win-win. The Denver Nuggets desperately need wing depth, and they would be happy to have James Ennis and his early-Bird rights. They will be sad to give up on Emmanuel Mudiay, but the second round pick will soften the blow.

The Grizzlies get a quality, young backup point guard to help them next year and beyond at a somewhat low cost. Ennis is expiring and could leave the team this summer, so getting something for him would be huge for the Memphis front office.

Focusing on the future

The other option Chris Wallace to consider with the trade deadline approaching is to blow it up. To be crystal clear, most of these trades involve getting as much value as possible for Mike Conley.

Between Andrew Harrison and Mario Chalmers, the Grizzlies probably can’t get much, if any, value. If they are able to even get a late second round pick for either player they should take the trade and run. This section will focus on Conley trades.

The Memphis Grizzlies would be sad to dump Conley, but getting a first round pick and a young prospect in T.J. Leaf will make it worth it. Conley is injury-prone and has a massive contract, which means his value isn’t as high as it used to be, so these two assets may be the best Memphis can get.

Al Jefferson, Darren Collison, and Bojan Bogdanovic are technically all expiring contracts (combined $5.5 million guaranteed next year) so the Grizzlies would gain a ton of cap space next summer to go with their new assets.

The Indiana Pacers dump three expiring contracts, a pick, and Leaf for Conley because he would fit perfectly with the Indiana roster. Additionally, Conley went to high school in Indiana and would sell some tickets for the Pacers, so they would be interested in acquiring him. Another win-win trade.

If the Grizzlies wanted to possibly toe the line between rebuilding and competing right away, they could make this move. They would acquire Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier, already established but young NBA players, as well as Mario Hezonja as a flier. This would allow Memphis to potentially be good now and in the future.

The Orlando Magic would finally get a quality point guard, something the franchise has been craving for years, and they wouldn’t have to sacrifice any draft picks. A final win-win trade.

Next: 2017-18 Week 13 NBA Power Rankings

The Memphis Grizzlies front office has a tough decision to make about the direction of the franchise. Regardless of which one they pick, they will trade options at the point guard position. Hopefully, the front office is able to manage their assets well.