Best Potential Power Forward Trade Targets for the Memphis Grizzlies

Despite being second in the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies can stand to tweak their rotation with a trade acquisition at power forward before the deadline on Feb. 19.

Zach Randolph has had a strong season, averaging 16.8 points and 12 rebounds per game, showing that he hasn't fallen from the pack of premier rebounders. 

Behind the 33-year-old, the Grizzlies lack a reliable backup. Jon Leuer is patrolling the boards and defending the paint effectively, swiping 9.1 rebounds per 36 minutes and allowing 102 points per 100 possessions.

But the fourth-year player is shooting 45.1 percent from the field, 4.1 percent worse than last season because he's largely abandoned the perimeter attack that made him promising with a 46.9 percent three-point clip in 2013-14. He's hit 28 percent in this campaign.

Rookie Jarnell Stokes has been slow making the transition to the pro game, posting 2.1 points and 1.3 rebounds during 5.6 minutes in 16 games with the Grizzlies while drifting between Memphis and the NBA D-League's Iowa Energy.

His three-game suspension following a fight with Kalin Lucas on the Energy bench did him no favors either. 

With that, the Grizzlies have brought in Tyrus Thomas and JaMychal Green on 10-day contracts during the past three weeks.

The Grizzlies have a bit to work with. According to HoopsHype, they sit just under $2 million below the luxury tax line, which provides a small buffer in case they pull in a player with a significant salary they can't match perfectly. Memphis holds a $3.15 million traded player exception obtained when they shipped Quincy Pondexter to the New Orleans Pelicans in the Jeff Green deal, as Basketball Insiders' Eric Pincus tweeted.

Here are a few players the Grizzlies should eye.

Quincy Acy

Acy has been in and out of the New York Knicks rotation recently as head coach Derek Fisher tries to discern helpful players for the future. 

He's a 6'7", 233-pound bruiser who can produce a fair amount in short minutes. The third-year pro is averaging 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game while shooting 49.8 percent from the field. 

While he's short for the position, Acy makes his presence felt by making heady plays inside. He caught eyes on Feb. 7 when he swatted a dunk attempt by Klay Thompson.

He had three double-digit scoring games out of four between Jan. 5 and Jan. 10, including 19 points and 14 boards against the Grizzlies on Jan. 5.

Acy makes $915,243 this year in the final season of his rookie contract. The Grizzlies could swing Leuer, who garners $967,500 in 2014-15, for the Baylor product.

Andrew Nicholson

Nicholson hasn't had much of an opportunity to flourish in his three-year NBA career. The Orlando Magic's 6'9", 250-pound stretch 4 has caught 15.3 minutes per game in 169 appearances, including 8.9 minutes per game during 18 contests this year.

However, Nicholson drops buckets when he plays. He's scored 6.4 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the field. This year, he's averaging 3.1 per game, with two double-digit affairs. He's shown flashes of his three-point potential, hitting 33 percent for his career and 45.5 percent this season. 

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

As ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweeted, the Magic are looking to deal Nicholson, who earns $1.5 million in this campaign and about $2.4 million in 2015-16.

The Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins pointed out that drawbacks include Nicholson's lack of athleticism and poor defense. Nicholson has allowed 109 points per 100 possessions in his career.

Still, his long-range shooting could help the Grizzlies, who have slumped recently from outside, making 30.7 percent since Jan. 7. Memphis could give him minutes at the end of the rotation, specifically to stand on the outside and shoot threes.

The Orlando Sentinel's Brian Schmitz tweeted that the Magic will be hard-pressed to find suitors for the St. Bonaventure product.

"

ESPN's Marc Stein says Magic open to trading bench-warmer Andrew Nicholson. No surprise -- and likely no takers.

— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) February 12, 2015"

With the lack of demand, the Grizzlies could grab him while giving up only a second-round pick or part of the trade exception.

Thomas Robinson

Robinson hasn't progressed offensively, but he plays superior defense and polishes the boards. The 6'9", 240-pound Kansas product shoots 46.6 percent from the field on 4.1 shots per game for his career, including 51.2 percent on 2.8 per game this year. 

Robinson, who earns roughly $3.7 million in the final stanza of his rookie deal, has allowed 102 points per 100 possessions in two campaigns with the Portland Trail Blazers, including 97 this season. He had a steal and two blocks in a Jan. 22 loss to the Boston Celtics, including this rejection of Jared Sullinger.

The third-year pro has pulled down 11.7 rebounds per 36 minutes in his career and 12.2 in 2014-15. 

The 2012 fifth overall pick matches Leuer in terms of role as an inside big man at the end of the frontcourt rotation, and he beats "Jonny Badger" where he's succeeded this year.

The Oregonian's Joe Freeman noted that while Robinson may be dealt, Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey has set strict parameters for a player Portland would acquire in a trade. Particularly, Olshey wants someone who is a good fit and makes the team better in a reserve role.

Such demands make it difficult for the Grizzlies to acquire Robinson. Leuer wouldn't make Portland significantly better unless his perimeter game suddenly bounces back. Memphis couldn't convince Olshey to take Russ Smith or Jordan Adams since neither has a chance of cracking a rotation this year, let alone helping in the playoffs.

Also, Kosta Koufos, whom ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst reported to be the subject of trade discussions, wouldn't fit a team that's set at center. Anyway, The Commercial Appeal's Ron Tillery stated that the Grizzlies are reluctant to deal Koufos.

Conclusion

The Grizzlies don't seem ready to make a trade that significantly alters their rotation. The 4 spot is one where the Grizzlies can adjust since Leuer is on the edge of the rotation and the depth is underwhelming.

But their lack of available, desirable assets imperils such a trade.

Hence, they'll likely shoot for bargain big men who don't require much to acquire. Nicholson is the easiest since he doesn't garner attention on the trade front and would receive an isolated role, although Acy would be ideal since he could assist in more areas.

Statistics are current through Feb. 15 games. Unless otherwise noted, advanced metrics come from Basketball-Reference.com. Contract and salary information courtesy of Spotrac.