Memphis Grizzlies: Power forward trade scenarios
By Tony East
The 2018 NBA trade deadline is fast approaching. What moves can the Memphis Grizzlies make at the power forward position?
It’s official: Mike Conley is out for the rest of the season. The Memphis Grizzlies‘ star point guard will miss the rest of the season, and the team is now clearly going to miss the playoffs. Now, they may make some trades to try and improve their situation for the next great Grizzlies team, whether that is next season or in the next era in general.
Trades at the power forward position will be an odd line to toe for the front office. JaMychal Green is a quality player that the Grizzlies just re-signed, but no competitive team needs a struggling 28-year-old stretch-4. At the same time, he is 28 so no rebuilding team would need him. This makes him difficult to trade as anything more than salary fodder.
The other three power forwards on the roster are Jarell Martin, Ivan Rabb and Brandan Wright. Martin and Rabb are young and probably valueless, so they will be challenging to trade. Wright has some value as an expiring contract, but he can’t squeeze any crazy good asset from a team that would want his expiring contract.
So, these trades will be a little harder to contrive. get started.
Trades that focus on next season:
As said in other trade scenario pieces, the Grizzlies could focus on next season. It is Marc Gasol‘s final season under contract (with a $25.6 million player option for the following season) and they could make one last push for success. Let’s look at what trades they coul power forward next year.
The Grizzlies are looking to trade Tyreke Evans as it is, and Brandan Wright has very little value to Memphis. The Charlotte Hornets’ first round pick is looking like it could be in the lottery, and Marvin Williams could start for the Grizzlies.
Chris Wallace would be happy to pick up a starter and a first round pick for Tyreke and Brandan, and although eating Williams’ contract for two years would stink, he could really help them win and would net them a first.
In Charlotte, the flip side is the focus. They would like to have a cheaper team, and Evans could help them push for the playoffs this season as the Detroit Pistons begin to lose a grip on the 8-seed. This trade could help both teams.
Darrell Arthur gets overlooked on a Denver team that has seemingly dozens of power forwards. He shot 45.3 percent from 3 last season and could stretch the floor on a Memphis team that ranks 27th in 3-point percentage. The middling second round pick is a small bonus for taking on Arthur’s money.
The Nuggets get a wing that they desperately need and a backup point guard that is an improvement over Emmanuel Mudiay. Another win-win trade.
Trades that focus on the future:
The Grizzlies probably should focus on the newest era of Memphis basketball. They appear to be stuck and have no way to get any better. Trading their power forwards for an asset that helps them in the future is probably the best course of action.
Three power forwards, one trade. This one is simple. The Grizzlies get a first round pick from the 2017 NBA Draft for taking on Meyers Leonard‘s money. The Blazers get just barely under the tax line and improve at the 4. Call it in.
Here’s one last three-team deal:
- Grizzlies receive: Skal Labissiere
- Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Tyreke Evans
- Sacramento Kings receive: Justin Patton
The Timberwolves are close to the 3-seed. They could get Evans for just the price of their underachieving rookie.
The Kings are reportedly trying to trade Skal Labissiere. They could get a rookie center for him that has some potential at a position where the Kings only have the stagnating Willie Cauley-Stein and the injured Harry Giles. Patton gives them another bite of the apple at the center position.
The Grizzlies get Skal, a promising stretch-4 who is raw but looks like he could be a great offensive player someday.
Next: 2017-18 Week 16 NBA Power Rankings
I think everyone is happy here. The Memphis Grizzlies need to be careful to not trade away anything for less than it is worth in assets. If they explore these trades, they will be doing just that.