How This Deal Impacts Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies have climbed the ladder back to relevance in the Western Conference. After a tough three-season stretch following the Grit and Grind era, Taylor Jenkins has led the team to playoff appearances in back-to-back seasons.

The Grizzlies have a lot of excellent young talent led by point guard Ja Morant. They are building what should be a sustained winner, but there could be questions about what exactly their ceiling is. Some of the young guys could ascend to All-Star levels as Morant already has, but that is always a risk.

So, looking to cement themselves at that level, Memphis acquires a bonafide star in Kevin Durant. Durant would be that missing piece to elevate the Grizzlies to legitimate contenders, providing the franchise with another star in the lineup.

Parting ways with Desmond Bane would certainly be difficult, but to acquire talent you need to part with some. Either he or Jaren Jackson Jr. would likely have to be involved in the deal to pique the Nets’ interest and in this hypothetical, it is Bane on his way out of town.

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Bane and five first-round picks are a strong set of assets to part ways with. But, Memphis would still have a strong foundation beyond the four guaranteed seasons Durant has on his contract. There is plenty of young talent still on the roster that the Grizzlies should still be contending six years down the road when the draft picks are conveying.

This is the kind of trade small market teams such as the Grizzlies normally have to make from trading away a superstar side. This time, they are the ones acquiring the star player, pushing the team to that next level.