Los Angeles Clippers: Ranking potential draft-day trades

2. Memphis Grizzlies

According to Michael Scotto of The Athletic, the Memphis Grizzlies are another team trying to trade down. They are trying to package their No. 4 pick with Chandler Parsons’ enormous contract.

Parsons is owed nearly $50 million over the next two seasons, while Clippers forward Danilo Gallinari is under contract for $44 million in that same span. That is a lot of money for two injury-prone small forwards.

Despite this, the chance at rebuilding with a transformative young center or the exciting EuroLeague MVP Luka Doncic seems worth it.

The Grizzlies, on the other hand, are still in win-now mode. Mike Conley and Marc Gasol aren’t getting any younger and are on untradeable contracts, meaning Memphis can’t commit to a full rebuild.

The last time Memphis picked a center with a top pick was in 2009, and it didn’t go so well. The team selected Hasheem Thabeet with the No. 2 pick, and he became a major draft bust. Grizzlies’ management might be eager to avoid a similar mistake.

Again, going as far back as No. 12 and 13 in the draft isn’t ideal. L.A. would need to offer Harris and Beverley, two veterans that would contribute right away, along with any other desired pieces. Despite this trade being highly unlikely, it is more doable than the one with the Hawks.