Memphis Grizzlies: Why A Zach Randolph Trade Isn’t A Bad Idea
The Memphis Grizzlies aren’t in the best shape this season, so finding a home for veteran Zach Randolph isn’t a terrible idea.
We here at FanSided love to chat among ourselves about how the season’s going and possible trades and developments that could come into play down the road.
Over at Raptors Rapture, editor Brian Boake proposed a trade scenario to me and wanted my feedback on it. We both thought it would be a great idea to read and react to each other’s thoughts because this is certainly a discussion worth having on both sides.
The Memphis Grizzlies are struggling with an 18-17 record this season and are only in the Western Conference playoff picture because teams out west have surprisingly fallen off this year leaving the top of the conference top-heavy with the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder being the only teams that can truly challenge for an NBA Finals berth.
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Meanwhile in the Eastern Conference the Toronto Raptors sport a 21-13 record good for the East’s second-best record behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Athleticism and youth combined with necessary experience are the prime ingredients to a Raptors squad capable of winning against any team on any given night. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are a dynamic backcourt duo and DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas are still getting better while contributing at a high level for a playoff-bound squad.
The Grizzlies clearly need to shake things up in the rotation while Toronto is looking for that power forward to round out a deadly starting five.
I’m sure you know where this is going: a Zach Randolph trade anyone?
Here’s the proposed trade, and you can see the full breakdown on the Raptors’ end here.
The Trade: Patrick Patterson, James Johnson and the Toronto Raptors’ 2016 first-round pick for Zach Randolph
When looking at this deal on its face, I’m not sure I’m inclined to take it as is.
Patrick Patterson and James Johnson have both struggled this season for the Raptors and don’t quite fit what head coach Dave Joerger wants to do in terms of play style.
Patterson is more than capable of hitting perimeter shots, but he’s not the athlete that someone like Jeff Green is playing the four spot. Joerger wants Memphis running the floor and being active with player movement and mobility on both ends of the floor.
While opening up the floor for Marc Gasol and Mike Conley to play the pick-and-roll is a priority for the Grizzlies moving forward, Patterson isn’t a game-changing athlete or quality defensive player to fit into Memphis’ current identity. I’m not sure he’s the answer for the Grizzlies at power forward.
I’m not sure Memphis needs the Raptors’ first-round pick if the prominent trade chip is one of Toronto’s younger wing players.
Beale Street Bears New Proposal: Zach Randolph for Terrence Ross, James Johnson and Anthony Bennett
Here’s why this trade suits both sides better than the previous deal.
The Grizzlies need a scorer and reliable three-point shooter on the wing and Terrence Ross provides the team with both.
Consistency isn’t a word always featured in Ross’ dictionary, but now that Toronto has Carroll entrenched in the starting small forward spot the Raptors don’t have a role with extended minutes for Ross anymore outside of a small-ball lineup with Carroll at power forward.
Including him in the trade wouldn’t be the end of the world for Toronto. They still get Randolph who’s a solid scorer and go-to option when the game slows down. The Raptors are looking for players who know how to win grind-it-out games in the playoffs. In terms of who’s potentially on the trade block, there’s no one built better for that role than Randolph.
Taking in Johnson and Anthony Bennett is a small price to pay for a wing like Ross. The Grizzlies would likely waive Bennett and hope that Johnson returns to his previous form that helped win Memphis games a few years ago.
This deal also allows the Raptors to keep Patterson in hopes that he finds his shooting stroke in time for a deep postseason run, and they’ll have two first-round picks plus up-and-coming forward Bruno Caboclo to fill Ross’ shoes.
Does this trade make Memphis dangerous in the playoffs should they make it in? Ross is still filled with potential and could breakout in a larger role. The Grizzlies would get younger and faster while the Raptors would get the primetime offensive presence they need at the four to contend for a title.
The point for a trade is to make two teams better, not just one. Both squads receive help from this deal and I honestly see this as a huge possibility as we get closer to the trade deadline.