5 Wings Memphis Grizzlies Should Chase on NBA Trade Market
The arms race continues in the Western Conference.
With the Houston Rockets adding a pair of new pieces and the Dallas Mavericks acquiring a former All-Star at point guard, the competition for the top spots in the NBA's stronger half is more intense than ever. And the Memphis Grizzlies are determined to keep pace.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, "No deal is imminent, sources said, but it has become clear that the Grizzlies are intent on upgrading their wing rotation."
So will the Grizzlies be the latest to enter a trade market that seems to be operating at a particularly fast-and-furious pace this season?
If they are, they'll likely have to part with many of their limited trade assets. Memphis no longer has many of its picks available to send away in any deal, and there's only one expiring contract worth shipping off. Well, only one that wouldn't involve splitting up what's been a supremely successful core.
Beyond that, there aren't too many young prospects with remarkably high ceilings.
Still, as the saying goes, when there's a will, there's a way. And, per Stein, there's certainly a desire to upgrade on the wings in Memphis.
Wilson Chandler
1 of 5
Memphis Grizzlies Get: Wilson Chandler
Denver Nuggets Get: Jordan Adams, Tayshaun Prince, 2016 second-round pick (from either Boston or Toronto via previous trade), 2018 second-round pick
The Denver Nuggets haven't technically made Wilson Chandler available. In fact, the front office has denied that a fire sale is in the cards after dealing Timofey Mozgov to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a pair of first-round picks. As general manager Tim Connelly said following the deal when asked if a roster tear-down was coming, per Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post, "No, I don't think so."
But dealing Chandler isn't the equivalent of entering into a large-scale rebuilding process. On the contrary, it's selling high and opening up minutes for the many other wing players on the Nuggets roster while giving Gary Harris a chance to earn minutes.
The Grizzlies should strike quickly while the Nuggets are still excited about the large return they got for Mozgov, offering a pair of second-round picks (more on why they can't offer a first-round one later), as well as an expiring deal and an intriguing young talent.
Tayshaun Prince obviously won't have much of a role in the Mile High City, but he does give the team even more financial flexibility going forward. With Jordan Adams adding to the growing list of young prospects under Connelly's control and plenty of money to spend, Denver can plan big things for the offseason if it ships off Chandler for an expiring contract like Prince's.
As for Chandler himself, his fit with the Grizzlies is rather obvious. He can play solid defense when tasked with doing so, and his floor-spacing ability would immediately render him one of the better shooters on the Memphis roster.
Luol Deng
2 of 5
Memphis Grizzlies Get: Luol Deng, Danny Granger
Miami Heat Get: Jordan Adams, Quincy Pondexter, Tayshaun Prince, Jarnell Stokes, 2016 second-round pick (from either Boston or Toronto via previous trade), 2018 second-round pick
"The Memphis Grizzlies, looking to bolster their scoring options on the wing in the ever-competitive Western Conference, are actively trying to obtain Miami's Luol Deng or Boston's Jeff Green ahead of the Feb. 19 trade deadline, according to league sources," reports Stein.
So the Grizzlies want Deng, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel: "The Sun Sentinel has confirmed an ESPN report that the Grizzlies have expressed interest in Deng, reaching out to the Heat. That, however, apparently is where the discussion ended."
But if the discussion continues, would the Miami Heat part with him?
Right now, that seems unlikely. Despite the team's massive struggles thus far in 2014-15, landing Deng after LeBron James left for the Cavaliers was viewed as a big deal internally, and trading him would be an early admission of failure that would diminish the perception of Pat Riley before a big offseason. After all, here's what Riley had said about the small forward after the signing, per Winderman:
"Signing Luol Deng is one of the most important free agent signings that we have ever had in the history of the franchise.
He is a proven All-Star and quintessential team player, both as a scorer, as well as an All-NBA defender. He brings the attitude of a warrior and competes every single night against the very, very best. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Heat family.
"
But the Heat's hesitance only makes a deal unlikely; it doesn't mean Memphis should stop chasing after the former All-Star.
In this scenario, the Grizzlies are offering everything they possibly can without breaking up the core of their rotation: Prince's expiring deal, Adams, Quincy Pondexter, rookie prospect Jarnell Stokes and two second-round picks. Will it be enough? Only time will tell, but there's no question Deng would be a good fit on Beale Street.
He already embodies that grit-and-grind mentality, locking down on the defensive end whenever he can and thriving when he's allowed to serve as a tertiary scoring option.
"Deng would be a great fit in Memphis—he is a good complementary offensive player averaging 14.3 points a game on an above-average 58.7 true shooting percentage, and hitting 36.3 percent from three," Kurt Helin writes for NBC Sports. "Plus he's a quality defender. He fits right in with what they want to do in Memphis."
Jeff Green
3 of 5
Memphis Grizzlies Get: Jeff Green
Boston Celtics Get: Jordan Adams, Tayshaun Prince, 2016 second-round pick (from either Boston or Toronto via previous trade)
The other rumored deal involves Jeff Green and the Boston Celtics, but it would require the C's backing off a bit from their previous requests.
"Boston has been consistently shopping forward Jeff Green, trying to acquire a package that includes a first-round draft pick, sources said," Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier this season. "Rondo being available would suggest Ainge is prepared to undergo a deeper rebuilding project and push harder for the highest possible draft position in the 2015 NBA draft."
Rajon Rondo has obviously been traded since that report, as he's been suiting up with the Dallas Mavericks for a while now, but that desire for a first-round pick may still be present for general manager Danny Ainge. And if it is, the Grizzlies are in trouble.
The 2015 first-round pick they initially traded to the Cavaliers, which was conveyed to the Nuggets in the Mozgov deal, has protections that last until 2018. If the Grizzlies somehow fall down into the lottery and end up with top picks throughout the foreseeable future, they'll control that pick until 2019.
Under the laws of the collective bargaining agreement and the Stepien Rule, which prohibits teams from trading first-round selections in back-to-back years, that means Memphis isn't allowed to trade another first-round pick until 2021, a restriction that expires as soon as the first dealt pick is actually handed over and used.
The most the Grizzlies can offer, at least in terms of picks, is a package of second-rounders. And that's what they're doing here while trying to give the Celtics another expiring contract and a decently intriguing young player.
As is the case with many of these deals, it will be tough for the Grizzlies to make such a move happen, as they're working with little leverage and even fewer assets. But if they can get Green, he'd be an athletic boost on the wings, serving as a significant upgrade over Prince on both ends of the court.
Kevin Martin
4 of 5
Memphis Grizzlies Get: Kevin Martin, Mo Williams
Minnesota Timberwolves Get: Nick Calathes, Tayshaun Prince, 2016 second-round pick (from either Boston or Toronto via previous trade)
Before Kevin Martin went down with a fractured right wrist during a Nov. 19 game against the New York Knicks, he was lighting it up for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The sample size is admittedly a small one, but in nine outings the 2-guard was averaging 20.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and a red-hot 48.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Now he's close to returning.
As Kent Youngblood reports for the Star Tribune:
"[Head coach and team president Flip] Saunders said both could be back within a couple weeks. "They have to have a feel for that," he said. "Pek [Nikola Pekovic] will say, 'Hey I think I'm ready to go.' Kevin will say, 'I'm ready.' They still have to get their wind back. They have to get their whole body back; all Kevin's been doing is shooting."
"
But do the Wolves really want Martin back in the lineup?
It's in their best interest to lose, and his presence only creates a logjam on the wings. With Andrew Wiggins showing steady improvement and Shabazz Muhammad asserting himself, it's in Minnesota's best interest to keep losing and let its young players develop on the job.
That's ideal for Memphis, as it allows the team to sell Martin for pennies on the dollar. By offering a second-round pick, Prince's expiring deal and a decent backup point guard with some upside, the Grizzlies can get much better for the time being.
Martin may not fit with the defensive style that gets played in Memphis, but his shooting ability would add a new, much-needed dimension to the offense. Plus, Mo Williams, even in his declined state, is a solid upgrade for the second unit and could spell Mike Conley quite nicely.
If the Grizz have to pay a premium for Martin, he's not worth it. Two-way players are needed on Beale Street, and the sharpshooter certainly doesn't qualify as such. But if he can be had at this kind of discount, Memphis has to pull the trigger immediately.
Hollis Thompson
5 of 5
Memphis Grizzlies Get: Hollis Thompson
Philadelphia 76ers Get: Tayshaun Prince, 2018 second-round pick
Chandler and Green are both highly coveted commodities. Deng isn't even on the market, but he'd command the highest asking price of all if the Heat chose to make him available. Martin, though the Wolves have reason to let him go, is still a valuable piece who would need a decent return to go back to Minnesota.
But the Grizzlies also have one cheap option: Hollis Thompson.
The 23-year-old sophomore small forward has had some trouble following up his rookie campaign with a similarly successful one. His shooting percentages are down across the board as the Philadelphia 76ers offense stagnates on a nightly basis, but he's still capable of spacing the floor while playing with a group of teammates who will actually draw more defensive attention from him.
In 2013-14, Thompson took 2.2 triples per game and hit 40.1 percent of them. This year, those numbers have shifted to 4.0 and 33.3, respectively. It's less impressive, but there still shouldn't be any doubt he can light it up when given space.
The Georgetown product isn't supposed to be on the same level as the other trade targets mentioned throughout this article. And he also commands a much lower asking price. Knowing 76ers GM Sam Hinkie's penchant for acquiring draft picks, the Grizzlies could likely land his services by dangling a second-round selection and Prince's expiring contract.
Thompson may not be a game-changing acquisition, but at least he would allow the Grizzlies to somewhat keep pace with the other improving Western Conference squads.
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