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A trade that can make the Grizzlies title favorites

By Josh Cornelissen

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 29: Nav Bhatia (Raptors Superfan), meets with Tee Morant ahead of the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Memphis Grizzlies at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 29: Nav Bhatia (Raptors Superfan), meets with Tee Morant ahead of the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Memphis Grizzlies at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies are sitting in the catbird seat. They are in second place in the Western Conference, two games back of the first-place Denver Nuggets, with the best net rating in the West. Their core is young and under team control for a long time, and their entire roster is stocked with good players.

The Toronto Raptors are in a very different seat. They have a lot of talented players, but they don’t fit together all that well, and they currently sit multiple games under .500 and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. That has led to plenty of speculation that the Raptors could decide to move major pieces ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline.

The Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors are heading in opposite directions

If that is the case, the Grizzlies should be the first team on the phone. The only type of player truly missing is a true combo forward, an on-ball perimeter defender with the size to take on opposing wing scorers like Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James. Dillon Brooks is an excellent perimeter defender but best deployed on guards, while Jaren Jackson Jr. is an elite rim protector who works best behind the play and not often on-the-ball.

The Raptors have at least one of those types of players, and the Grizzlies have young players, matching salaries and plenty of draft picks. Could a deal between the two get done? And would it push the Grizzlies from contenders to favorites? Let’s take a closer look.

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