Playing buy or sell with each NBA playoff bubble team

Memphis Grizzlies: Either

The Memphis Grizzlies are so much fun. Ja Morant might be an All-Star candidate if he played in the East, Jaren Jackson Jr. is a legitimate 3-and-D-and-then-some big and Brandon Clarke is a ball of energy waiting to be released on every play.

Memphis is no doubt the surprise team of the season. Teams led by rookie point guards seldom do this well. But coach Taylor Jenkins isn’t just letting him fire away to work through his warts; Memphis plays with a purpose.

With a supercomputer like Morant at the helm, that becomes much easier. The No. 2 pick out of Murray State sees plays far in advance of when they happen, firing passes that may not turn into personal assists (though he does get credit for 7.1 of those per night), but often turn into another pass that breaks down the defense. He’s electric and contagious.

Jonas Valancuinas isn’t great for every matchup, but certain ones are ripe for his picking. Teams still need bruisers, and J-Val is happy to feast on the weaker, smaller centers for an occasional 20 and 10.

De’Anthony Melton, Memphis’ reward for taking on Josh Jackson’s contract, is a defensive pest who may start alongside Morant one day. He is a restricted free agent this summer and it would be reckless for Memphis to lose him (unless someone overpays him), even with Tyus Jones on the books.

A combination of good drafting (Dillon Brooks in the second round in 2017, JJJ in 2018, Clarke at No. 21 in 2019) and lottery luck (moving up to No. 2 in 2019) has given the Grizzlies a ton of talent and flexibility moving forward.

A sale would include nothing of Memphis’ young core; it’s about the expiring contracts. Andre Iguodala, Solomon Hill, Jae Crowder and Josh Jackson are all ticketed for unrestricted free agency. That’s a combined $45 million that can be rearranged for parts, either to take on extra assets or bolster the playoff push.

Brooks’ upcoming free agency could sweeten a deal too, if Memphis wants to go that route.

The luxury of being an upstart team is time, but the Grizzlies still have to be delicate with their moves. Their surprise start could be heavily influenced by chemistry, something that could go strongly awry if the wrong trade is made.