NBA Trade Grades: Kings, Grizzlies swapping Garrett Temple for Ben McLemore
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies didn’t acquire any current superstars this summer, but between drafting Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jevon Carter, signing Kyle Anderson (albeit to an inflated deal) and now trading for Garrett Temple, this team has quietly reinserted itself back into the crowded Western Conference playoff picture.
While a healthy Mike Conley and Marc Gasol are hardly guarantees at this point, if they can stay on the court, this team could be a sleeper in the West.
.@GTemp17 has quietly been a solid wing for a few seasons now. In all the "pick your 8 West playoff teams" barroom debates I had in Vegas, Memphis rarely came up. People are sleeping on them a bit if Mike and Marc are healthy https://t.co/862Mhgpx4r
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 17, 2018
Temple isn’t a flashy acquisition by any means, but he’s capable of playing multiple positions and has steadily become a reliable 3-point shooter over the last four seasons. He shot 39.2 percent from deep on 3.5 attempts per game last season, posting career highs in both categories.
He didn’t move the needle much for a bad and young Sacramento Kings team, but on a team that figures to be more competitive down on Beale Street, his 8.4 points per game would be a nice addition at the 2 whether he’s starting or coming off the bench.
A lineup of Conley, Temple, Anderson, JaMychal Green and Gasol could be sneaky good, with a nice balance of high basketball IQ and stout defensive ability.
Talking to some Memphis folks, I came to understand that they wanted to completely change the basketball IQ profile of the roster. Moving Ben Mc and Davis for Temple after signing Anderson is pretty complete
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) July 17, 2018
McLemore disappointed in his lone season with the Grizzlies, and at this point, Temple is definitely the superior player. Taking a shot on McLemore’s potential in free agency last summer was worth it, but Memphis now turns him — and a big man who’s unlikely to ever truly crack the team’s rotation in Deyonta Davis — into a proven contributor and welcome locker room presence.
Giving up two younger players, a future second-rounder and cash may seem like a lot for a 32-year-old, but with Temple on an expiring contract and a roster spot opened up, this is a solid maneuver for the Grizzlies, both for the upcoming season and the summer of 2019.
Grade: B+