Memphis Grizzlies Receive: G CJ McCollum, F Nassir Little, POR 2022 2nd Round Pick
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G/F Dillon Brooks, F Kyle Anderson, G Tyus Jones, MEM 2024 1st Round Pick (Lottery-Protected)
While the Indiana Pacers trade offers the Portland Trail Blazers an equal talent to CJ McCollum, this trade scenario with the Memphis Grizzlies gives them more value and overall depth. Memphis is a young team on the rise in this NBA, so they may not want to give up a vast amount of their core, but they do still seem like they are one piece away from being a special team.
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are a solid “one-two punch” in terms of young talents and guys like Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke, Steven Adams, and rookie Ziaire Williams have a chance to be great secondary talents, but the Grizzlies still need another “go-to” scorer on offense, especially in their backcourt.
Dillon Brooks emerged as a two-way threat last season and could be that secondary player Morant needs, but CJ McCollum is a much better option, especially since he is a proven scorer that can average upwards of 20 points per game.
The asking price by Portland would be steep, as both Brooks and Anderson, as well as a future first-round pick, is a lot of value to give up, but the Grizzlies are still looking to make some moves.
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They are over the 15-player max on their roster and the Grizzlies have been rumored to be available “for the right price.” Could CJ McCollum fall in that “price range” for the Memphis Grizzlies to give up two key talents on the wing?
In terms of getting value, the Blazers should definitely be interested in this deal with the Grizzlies, even if Kyle Anderson and Tyus Jones are only under-contract for the 2021-22 season. These two guys together make $17.5M this upcoming season, which would be some money that Portland could have to play around with next offseason.
Norman Powell and Damian Lillard’s contracts are set to increase next season and Dillon Brooks would also be under contract, making these three player’s payrolls add up to about $70.5M, but Portland would have a good chunk of money left to potentially pursue another All-Star talent to pair with Lillard.
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Not only does Portland get three players who can all contribute at a relatively high level for the 2021-22 season, but they would also get insurance and assets to continue building for the future, hopefully for their sake with Damian Lillard. This trade with the Grizzlies gives the Blazers what they need now and gives them hope to keep their All-Star point guard for the foreseeable future.
