4 teams that could’ve beaten Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell offer

Grizzlies trade Bane, Brooks, Williams & Green’s contract for Donovan Mitchell.

Do the Memphis Grizzlies have the best young core in the NBA? That’s a topic of discussion for another article, but it’s safe to say they belong in the conversation. Obviously, reigning Most Improved Player Ja Morant is off the table in all trade discussions and it’s likely that Jaren Jackson Jr. is in a similar position. That leaves a bevy of intriguing up-and-comers for Memphis to deal.

Right behind Morant in that MIP conversation, two-guard Desmond Bane showcased stellar shooting ability and 3-level-scoring capacity that helped surge the Grizzlies to home-court advantage in the heated Western Conference. He’s only owed about $6 million over the next two seasons before becoming a restricted free agent, so Utah could maintain its cap flexibility.

Also in the mix are Dillon Brooks, a proven role player who can fill bigger shoes when needed, and the contract of injured veteran Danny Green. Both on expiring deals, Brooks could easily be flipped ahead at the trade deadline to a Playoff team replacing injured players or seeking wing depth.

The piece that really moves this trade ahead of Cleveland’s package is 20-year-old Ziaire Williams, a 6-foot-8 forward with huge potential who slipped in last year’s draft following a rough freshman campaign at Stanford. He came alive in the second half of the season, showcasing the ability to score and defend on a consistent basis.

Forwards who’ve shown that much promise at Williams’ size and age are extremely hard to come by and ultimately, that’s a bet I’d rather take than what Cleveland offered.