The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6 and several teams are looking around, scanning the market for ways to upgrade their rosters.
That includes the Memphis Grizzlies, who are in one of the most interesting positions. The Grizzlies (31-16) entered play Wednesday as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
When peeling the layers back further, Memphis has a combined 3-6 record against the other current top four seeds in the Eastern and Western conferences.
The Grizzles haven’t been great against elite teams. Is there a move that should be made, or can a healthier Memphis roster with the pending returns of Marcus Smart and Vince Williams Jr. be enough?
Both players have been listed as week to week and should return in February. Williams was initially expected back in late January, but his recovery from a Grade 3 ankle sprain is taking longer than anticipated.
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“Vince Williams Jr. continues to progress but is now considered week to week in his return from the grade three ankle sprain,” a team spokesperson said Wednesday. “Based on prior timeline, the hope was for him to play by the end of this month, but unfortunately sounds like Vince’s return from the significant sprain will take a bit longer.”
Marcus Smart, John Konchar, Luke Kennard could be available
Memphis has sizable contracts that could be movable in the right scenarios. Smart has shown flashes of being a physical presence that the Grizzlies need, but he has had major availability issues because of injuries since joining the Grizzlies.
John Konchar also has been a popular name in trade talks since last season. He has been reliable and steady in Memphis, but the value of his role has decreased with the team’s increased wing depth.
Shooting guard Luke Kennard is on an expiring contract. Barring something unforeseen, this is probably his last season with the Grizzlies. If they deem him replaceable, moving off of his contract to acquire a different type of player for a playoff run would make sense.
Addressing turnover issues by acquiring Monte Morris
Memphis has a deep roster with a lot of players who have done well in flashes, but not much proven playoff depth.
Turnovers have been a major issue; the Grizzlies currently are last in the NBA with 16.7 turnovers per game.
Backup Phoenix Suns point guard Monte Morris is on a cheap expiring contract ($2.8 million) and has been one of the NBA’s best point guards at taking care of the basketball. He has the second-best assists-to-turnover ratio in the NBA the past five seasons. He likely would cost only a protected second-round pick, and the Suns are desperate for draft capital.
Want to go for a little more flash? After recent reports suggested that Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox could be traded to the San Antonio Spurs, Memphis should try to get involved and inquire about 12-time All-Star Chris Paul.
Paul is 39, but he has started 43 games for the Spurs while averaging 8.2 assists and shifting the culture to more of a winning mentality. He’s on a one-year deal worth nearly $10.5 million, so he would be a rental and not a hard contract to acquire.
Having a backup point guard with the basketball IQ and ability of Paul would elevate Memphis.
Revisiting Jimmy Butler, forward trade possibilities
Physicality has been an issue with Memphis. Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat is a player who brings that defensive tenacity and has been a proven playoff performer in his career.
Recent reports have indicated that Butler has no interest in playing in Memphis. His situation in Miami continues to evolve, with the star forward issued his third suspension from the team.
Butler’s price is dropping. Miami more than likely just wants him gone at this point, and there aren’t many teams that could put together a package better than Memphis centered on draft assets and matching salaries.
If Butler stands firm on not wanting to play in Memphis, Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter is worth looking into. Hunter is having a career season, averaging 19.1 points and shooting 39.4% on 3-pointers, and he is one of the NBA’s top Sixth Man of the Year candidates.
With promising Hawks forward Jalen Johnson out for the remainder of the season, Atlanta could look to collect assets and get ready for the 2025-26 season.
Hunter has two years left on an original four-year, $90 million deal. His defense, scoring and shooting could bump him into a starting role in Memphis.
