Making the Case: Memphis Grizzlies
This trade would be a means of compounding some of their young depth into a true superstar. The package they’re sending to the Toronto Raptors is certainly a heavy toll to pay, but the only way to acquire elite talent is to make sacrifices.
Pulling the trigger on this deal would give the Memphis Grizzlies a starting lineup of Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane, Pascal Siakam, and Jaren Jackson Jr. This squad would be youthful, athletic, versatile, and dangerous on both ends of the court.
Siakam gives the Grizzlies another go-to scorer who can put the ball in the hoop from any spot on the court. He can run pick-and-rolls as both the ball-handler and the screener and has always been a terror in transition.
Adding Siakam’s 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game to a Grizzlies core that’s quickly ascending would give Memphis one of the most talented rosters in the league. With him in tow, the Grizz could build upon their startling second-seed finish this past season, and no one would bat an eye this time around.
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The one drawback of this trade is that it completely strips the Grizzlies of their size. Giving up both Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke leaves Memphis’s frontcourt rotation barren, and the Grizz would have to scour the free agency ranks to supplement those losses.
Instead, General Manager Zach Kleiman might consider including Dillon Brooks — who’s redundant with Bane and has worn out his welcome with some Memphis fans — and keep Brandon Clarke.
