Memphis Grizzlies 2024 Trade Deadline Premier

It is one of the most exciting days of the year on every NBA calander: NBA Trade Deadline Day.

And in recent years, some of the biggest names in the sport have moved as this annual deadline approached. So far this season, James Harden, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Terry Rozier have been traded to new places. And while those moves have not occurred within a few days of the trade deadline itself, that should be considered a pretty good list of quality talent changing teams.

But as we emerge on deadline day in 2024, the star power of names that could be on the move today across the league may not reach the level many had thought it would have a few weeks ago. However, plenty of moves are likely to happen. With new parameters in place when it comes to the amount teams can comfortably spend across the league, some teams will be looking to clean up future finances. Others will be looking to gain future assets, and a few could truly be buyers to make a run at a title this season.

But when it comes to the Memphis Grizzlies, deadline day arrives without much pressure at all. Due to a season now basically lost due to injuries up and down their roster, wins and losses are not as important as they once were. But even more significant is the fact that the Grizzles enter deadline day in a great position due to moves already made. Over the past several days, Memphis has traded Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman in two separate moves that resulted in the following assets:

• 5 future 2nd round picks
• A $9M+ expiring contract (Oladipo) and $2M expiring contract (Lamar Stevens)
• A $12.5M dollar trade exception
• Significantly more future financial flexibility

For a front office that is considered among the most creative and resourceful in the league, that is a significant amount of assets gained that can be used in a variety of ways in the present and future to improve the team. In other words, the Grizzlies are likely already “winners” at the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline. However, relevant questions remain that could lead to even more moves today. Let’s take a look at the most significant questions that remain for Memphis as this year’s Trade Deadline Arrives:

If the center position is a need, why have the Grizzlies traded away two of their centers on the roster?

Future Certainty and Flexibility.

When Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman have played for the Grizzlies over the past few years, they both have provided significant value. However, due to the amount of injuries that has made this year a “lost season” for Memphis, the Grizzlies are no longer in a position to bet on past production continuing in the future. In the case of Steven Adams, if fully healthy, chances are his past production will come in shorter spurts of time. In the case of Xavier Tillman, he currently offers more value on defense than offense. For a Grizzlies team more attentive to their finances more than ever and with a roster that features defense as a strength, moving Adams and Tillman for future assets makes perfect sense.

The need for a significant source of value at the center position remains for the Grizzlies. But if the Grizzlies front office feel neither Adams nor Tillman could be that source, it was wise to cash in assets in the present for future value. This allows the Grizzlies to be more resourceful when they are ready to compete again. This is especially true when it comes to finding a more beneficial long term big than Adams or Tillman.

Will the Grizzlies move any more current players for future assets?

As mentioned above, Memphis has already achieved many of its trade deadline goals by trading Tillman and Adams. However, if the Grizzlies are to make an additional move, trading off another expendable contract for more future assets seems to be the most likely transaction. The players on the roster that could be involved in this move most likely are John Konchar, Luke Kennard, or Victor Oladipo.

Konchar’s ability to add value outside of scoring and on defense seems to be a skill set that a few contenders could want, as Cleveland and others may have interest. Another reason a team could trade for Konchar is his future earnings, as he is set to make nearly $6M per year over the next three years. That could be a valuable contract for a team that has more cap flexibility than the Grizzlies and wants to make a future trade for a star.

Oladipo’s $9M+ contract could be included in deals involving bigger money where the Grizzlies can trade him for an asset of some sort while helping other teams facilitate a deal. While this may not be all that certain to happen, the Grizzlies have been creative with expiring deals in the past. If Oladipo were to not be traded, he likely will be bought out/waived after the deadline.

As for Luke Kennard, the chance exists that a team that needs shooting could offer an attractive deal for the sharp shooter that would be hard for the Grizzlies to refuse. However, it is hard to deny many teams need Kennard more than Memphis. The most likely outcome for Kennard is him remaining with the team into the summer, when either an extension can occur or more teams may be available to work out a trade with.

In the end, especially in the case of Konchar and Oladipo, the Grizzlies still have expendable players that could lead to more future picks. It will be interesting to see if this can lead to one or multiple deals.

Could Grizzlies move off future salary to a young wing in a deal?

Besides injuries, perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this season for the Grizzlies is the fact Ziaire Williams, Santi Aldama, Jake Laravia, and David Roddy each have shown very little progression in their production this season. Aldama remains on a higher level than the other three overall, and would likely be a player other teams would still value if the Grizzlies were to some reason be “buyers” in a deal. But for the other three players, Memphis may be at the point of valuing freeing up their future salary and roster spot over continued development.

The key in this type of deal for Memphis would be trading one of their young wings for a player with an expiring contract that would be a free agent in some fashion after this season. Memphis can take on salary this season without worrying about cap implications, so using that flexibility in the present to help with flexibility in the future makes sense.

It has been reported that Memphis has checked in on the availability of Detroit guard Killian Hayes, who would fit the description of an expiring contract. Other names that could fit that type of player target for Memphis are listed above. In the case of each of these players, their current team has flexibility next season and could have interest in Williams, Laravia, or Roddy as a reclamation project as they look to rebuild (or as a another piece the trade in the case of Philadelphia.) While Memphis may have to add a draft pick to complete this kind of deal, that potential has become much more sensible since the Grizzlies have five additional future second round picks to work with.

While not a guarantee, it does seem that Memphis has at least explored this type of move. It will be interesting to see if the Grizzlies pursue this type of move over the next several hours.

Could the Grizzlies be Buyers?

As a team that is in line to have a good chance at a top 10 pick in this year’s draft lottery, the Grizzlies are operating as “sellers”, trading off pieces with present value for future assets. That is typically how non-playoff teams operate at the deadline. However, the Grizzlies are unique in that once many of their current injured players return to health next season, Memphis will clearly once again be focused on winning. As a result, if the right deal were to come along, the could look to be buyers.

Memphis could make this happen by attaching picks to one of their young wings in exchange for a player who is controlled for the future but has a more productive outlook long-term. For instance, Memphis has been connected to Knicks guard Quentin Grimes, whose shooting could help address a current need of the team. Since the team has now traded Tillman and Adams, Memphis clearly could be in the market to add another front court talent. If a player such as Charlotte’s Nick Richards were to be available at a reasonable cost, Memphis could make the move to add that player for the future.

However, the key in Memphis being a “buyer” is the price for the player making sense. The Grizzlies should not pay a significant price in assets for a deal now just to fill a need; that type of move is more sensible in the offseason, when more teams are willing to be creative in deals. As a result, while it is logical for Memphis to inquire about players it would like to trade for, a significant long-term addition to the roster remains more likely over the summer than now.

Trade Deadline Prediction

I feel there is a good chance the Grizzlies could make multiple moves as deadline day has arrived. These moves most likely will be turning Oladipo or Konchar into additional assets and trading one of Williams or Laravia for another expiring contract.

As a result, I feel there is better than a 50% chance that Memphis makes another deal, maybe even more than one. But I feel that significance of the moves will remain minor, with the Grizzlies remaining focused on acquiring future assets. However, a chance exists Memphis could make a bigger move as a “buyer” if the right place is available for a player.

Overall, make sure to stick with Bluff City Media for the latest information when it comes to the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline and the Grizzlies, including our social media show coverage over the last several hours of the deadline.