[zolaParticipant]

Grizzlies will have a lot of options and trade assets this offseason. Some suggest they should make a consoldation trade for another star. Although they had a great season and looks ahead of their timeline, I think they are still not true contender and should look at a longterm plan, so the trading up is the best idea.

What is their biggest longterm need? Morant is their PG for future, Bane is SG, Ziaire Willliams is SF and Jaren Jackson is their future C, so I think their biggest need is PF position. Since they have their big 3 in Morant, Bane and Jackson, they should look for a team oriented, defensive minded player, ideally who is nice three point shooter. Three players I would love to see in Grizzlies uniform next season are Jeremy Sochan, Tari Eason and Deni Avdija (although none of them is good shooter). So I would suggest few trade ideas how to get one of them.

I
Grizzlies get 15th pick (draft Tari Eason) and Gordon Hayword
Hornets get Dillon Brooks and 22nd pick (if needed Grizzlies can add their own 2024 1st round pick or Xavier Tillman)

There is a rumors that Hornets want to get rid of Hayword’s contract and for a few spots sliding down they could do that and get great wing defender in Brooks to upgrade their bad defense. Grizzlies would have cap space to absorb Hayword’s huge contract in the next two years. They could insert Ziaire Williams in starting lineup and give Hayword a role of 6th man. Since he is a older and already well paid, I think he would be more willing to accept this role than Dillon Brooks. There is a risk because of Hayword’s injuries, but they have John Konchar as a replacment.

II
Grizzlies get Deni Avdija and Ish Smith and Gordon Hayword
Hornets get Dillon Brooks and 22nd pick (if needed Grizzlies can add their own 2024 1st round pick or Xavier Tillman)
Wizards get Tuys Jones (S&T) and 15th pick (if needed Grizzlies can add Warriors 2024 1st round pick)

This trade make sense if Breadley Beal resigns for Wizards. They need PG desperately, but don’t have cap space to sign him in free agency, so they will need to trade for him. Since they have a lot of scoring options in Beal, Porzingis, Kuzma, a pass first PG like Tuys Jones would be amazing fit for them. But I’m not sure if they are willing to give their best defender for that. Avdija is becoming one of the best forward defenders in the league and also have untapped offensive potential.

III
Grizzlies get 10th pick (draft Jeremy Sochan) and Ish Smith and Gordon Hayword
Hornets get Dillon Brooks and 22nd pick (if needed Grizzlies can add their own 2024 1st round pick or Xavier Tillman)
Wizards get Tuys Jones (S&T) and 15th pick (if needed Grizzlies can add Warriors 2024 1st round pick)

If Wizards are not willing to give up Avdija, maybe they are willing to slide down few spots for a starting PG. The problem is that Jeremy Sochan could be gone by than, since I think Spurs could pick him at 9th.

IV
Grizzlies get 7th pick (draft Jeremy Sochan) and Eric Bledsoe and Gordon Hayword
Hornets get Dillon Brooks and 22nd pick (if needed Grizzlies can add their own 2024 1st round pick or Xavier Tillman)
Wizards get Tuys Jones (S&T)
Blazers get Kyle Kuzma and De’Anthony Melton and 15th pick and Warriors 2024 1st round pick
or
Blazers get Jeremy Grant and Warriors 2024 1st round pick
Pistons get Kyle Kuzma and De’Anthony Melton and 15th pick

I know five teams trades don’t happen every day, but I think this make sense for all teams. Jeremy Sochan is my favorite prospect in this draft class. Some would say that 7th pick is maybe little high for him, but he would be amazing fit for Grizzlies. He and Jaren Jackson would be monstrous defensive frontcourt duo.

Who do you think the Grizzlies should target?
Which of these trades seems you the most realistic?

[HitsterParticipant]

I don’t see Avdiji being part of any trade as he’s a key part of Washington’s long term rotation IMO. Taking on two years of Hayward’s contract to move up 7 or so places would be a big hit but could work if Hayward was sound as he is still a quality player. Charlotte are the logical trade up team as they have double picks in the range Memphis want to get to and OKC will likely want to draft at 12.

Charlotte might be looking to possibly move up themselves but if they wanted Hayward’s contract off the books then a Memphis offer could work,

[OhCanada-Participant]

All the teams with multiple picks try to package them and move up in the draft. Boston in the past, OKC every year, Memphis pulled it off last year and got Ziare. Its just not ideal to bring in 2 or more rookies and expect to be able to find roles for them and give them enough attention to properly develop. I’m sure they will try to get in that top tier of prospects again and like some of your trade ideas although theres alot of teams with multiple picks that will likely be trying to move up as well. OKC, San Antonio, Charlotte, Memphis. It should be interesting to see how it all plays out especially with next years Victor Wembanyama draft teams will be loading up for.

[HitsterParticipant]

OKC unless they package 2 and 12 to move to top which is something Orlando could consider might look to do 12, 30 and 34 to get into top 10. The Spurs with 9, 20,25 could look to move inside top 6 or 7 with say 9 or 20 but might look to package two later picks also more realistically.

Charlotte and Washington trades were discussed above and 13 and 15 for 10 plus some flller works well.

With talk about one of Utah’s big two being available then could higher picks one into play. NOP dratiung in a false position at 8 springs to mind.

Also if good players start falling then teams down the draft can suddenly look to move up on draft night so other scenarios come into play,

[zolaParticipant]

As we saw last year teams that had multiple picks failed to trade up. Grizzlies advantage is that they can offer more experienced, but still young players like Brooks, Jones (S&T), Melton, Clarke, Tillman. They also have cap space to absorb unwanted contracts.

It would be great if they could make sign and trade deal for Tuys Jones and not to lose him for free, especially now when his trade value is highest.

[r377Participant]

does jackson prefer to play PF

Dilon brooks is a chucker whose value is currently high atm, i would be looking to trade him now and sell high.

OG anoughby, jerami grant, RJ barret for brooks.

They have 3 strong players. bane JJ Ja

Ja is injury prone, really need to keep tyus jones and maybe another vet PG. bledsoe, ish smith etc

Terrence ross doesnt fit into orlando long term, could be a good vet off the bench.

christian wood is injury prone, would you do brooks for wood ?

[zolaParticipant]

Jaren can play one more season as PF while Adams is under contract, but his longterm position is C. He doesn’t have good handle or passing vision to play PF.

If Brooks agrees to 15-16 million $ per year contract extension and accept 6th man role, I would keep him for few more years (but it’s highly unlikely). Otherwise I would try to trade him this offseason.

As much as Jones is valuable for this team, I think it would be too expensive to keep him (also he would like to be a starter). They should target some vets on smaller contracts for backup PG, like Bledsoe, Kemba, Dragic…

I don’t like Christian Wood in Memphis. He is also chucker with bad defense. If they can not get Sochan or Eason via trade up, I would rather try to sign Bobby Portis.

If they trade Dillon Brooks than Terrence Ross would make a sense, but I would also like to draft Christian Braun with 29th pick.

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