NBA Trades: The Grizzlies return to their grit and grind ways by acquiring Butler.
Despite the many players working their way in and out of the Grizzlies' rotation due to various injuries, Memphis remains one of the top teams in the Western Conference. A loss to the Sacramento Kings Friday night slowed the team down, but the outlook remains bright for Memphis this season.
Memphis' success has largely stemmed from their high-powered offense, the top offense in the entire league. The Grizzlies are a talented shooting team, second in points in the paint and second in assists per game.
Memphis utilizes ball movement to create quality shots and knock them down at an efficient rate. It's a far cry from the 'Grit and Grind' Grizzlies of years past, and defensively, Memphis has suffered for it.
While the Grizzlies lead the league in points per game, they are also a bottom 10 team in points allowed per game. The absence of Marcus Smart, who has played just 19 games for Memphis, has hurt their defensive efforts. The addition of Jimmy Butler, though, would not only help improve their defense but help maintain their offensive structure.
Butler likes to play a fair bit on the ball, but he's always been willing to move the rock, averaging 5.7 assists per game since arriving in Miami in 2019. Players like Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin, Hayward Highsmith, and Max Struss have made careers off Butler's looks. In Memphis, Butler would also be able to relieve some of the offensive burden off of Ja Morant, who appears interested in toning things down in the interest of preserving his health.
As for Miami, the Heat have made it clear that they're not looking to rebuild. They're confident in the ability of their team, with or without Butler, and would prefer acquiring players who can help the team compete in the present.
The addition of Smart helps to improve the guard play in Miami, which has been questionable at times. While not the defender he was during the 2021-2022 NBA season, Smart is still more than capable and would help mitigate the loss of Butler.
The addition of Brandon Clarke would bolster Miami's frontcourt, giving the Heat some much-needed rebounding assistance. Luke Kennard would help improve one of the NBA's already top shooting units, and the two first-round picks would go a long way toward Miami making a secondary deal, likely this offseason, perhaps for De'Aaron Fox.