The Memphis Grizzlies are third place in the Western Conference with.a 24-13 record. They have a couple of great players, but there is one glaring hole, and that is wing defense. Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has reported that they are looking for “a big win with a defensive edge”. The organization senses they might be a player away, which is why they are in the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes. Lately, it seems like the Grizzlies are running out of trade options.
Memphis Grizzlies are Running out of Trade Options
The Grizzlies look like a team without a clear strategy for which player they should pursue hard. They were in talks to acquire Dorian Finney-Smith, but the Nets eventually traded him to the Lakers.
Then, they are reportedly in the Jimmy Butler trade sweepstakes, but the latest reports indicate he doesn’t want to go there. The Grizzlies are a good trade partner, as they own all their first-round picks and can trade up to four of them. They also have five second-round picks to trade and an expiring salary like Luke Kennard. On top of that, they have a good, young player in Santi Aldama.
Can the Grizzlies Land a Star?
The two biggest names that the Grizzlies think they can get are Cam Johnson from the Nets and Jimmy Butler from the Heat. They don’t seem to be the frontrunners for either player though. Butler’s camp has even given signals Jimmy doesn’t want to get traded to Memphis.
The challenge with Johnson is that other teams are trying to get him, like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. The Grizzlies can outbid the Pacers, but they likely can’t top what the Thunder can offer. On top of that, it looks like they are holding their chips, hoping that they might eventually top any Butler offer.
Are there Difference-Makers on the Market?
If the Grizzlies miss out on Butler and Johnson, their trade options look slimmer. Yes, they have a good team right now, and they can probably get to the second round or to the Western Conference Finals. But if they want to go a step further, they need one more guy.
The remaining wings reported to be available are Brandon Ingram, Zach LaVine, Bruce Brown, Kyle Kuzma, and De’Andre Hunter. Out of those, Ingram and LaVine have been on the trade block for a year and a half. Kuzma is a good option, but not someone who necessarily moves the needle. The same can be said for Brown. Hunter is having a breakout season, which might make his price a bit too high.
Do the Grizzlies Have Enough to Contend?
Here is a fun stat, the Grizzlies are the only team in the league in the top-five in both offensive and defensive rating. They are fifth in both, allowing only 109 points per 100 possessions, and scoring 116.6 per 100 possessions.
The OKC Thunder have the best defense in the league, but they are eighth in offensive rating. The Celtics are second in offense and sixth in defense. The Rockets, another Western conference rival, are third in defensive rating and 10th in offensive rating.
Traditionally, teams in the top-10 in both offensive and defensive rating compete for a title. The Grizzlies are fifth in both categories. A player like Cam Johnson can make a difference with his three-point shooting, but will the Grizzlies get him?
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