NBA Trade Rumors: Memphis Grizzlies Eyeing Rockets’ Brandon Knight, Pick

Grizzlies Getting Greedy

In these trade discussions with the Houston Rockets, the Memphis Grizzlies should absolutely attempt to maximize their possessions. They need to try to get the most return possible, especially since they are doing their interdivisional rival a solid and improving their roster now while creating future salary cap space in the process.

By taking the aforementioned trade framework and adjusting it another notch, Houston does not have much that is intriguing while also being feasible for Memphis. The last piece the Grizzlies could sap out of the Rockets would be third-year power forward Marquese Chriss.

Chriss was mediocre in his first two seasons as a member of the Phoenix Suns after they selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Becoming a member of the Houston Rockets via offseason trade, the H-Town arrival for Marquese Chriss has been everything but welcoming.

He has only appeared in 15 games this season, averaging a measly 6.7 minutes per contest. He clearly is not a part of Houston’s plans right now, and they do not seem too worried about grooming him for the future. Chriss will enter NBA Free-Agency labeled with the unrestricted free-agent tag this upcoming summer.

For the Memphis Grizzlies, their current interests deciphered from all these NBA trade rumors include 1) Draft pick compensation, 2) consolidation of large contracts and/or expiring deals, and 3) young players that have untapped potential — in this order.

By dealing JaMychal Green and Garrett Temple to the Rockets while receiving a first round pick in the process, nearly all of their goals are solved in one quick swoop.

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Memphis can sweeten their impending rebuilding plan by snagging Marquese Chriss, too, as he is only 21 years of age and would be a collegiate senior this season had he finished his college career prior to declaring for the NBA Draft.

For Chriss, it is a matter of finding the right system as well as a good opportunity. In Phoenix, he had to battle with similar youth development projects in T.J. Warren and Josh Jackson. Then he was shipped out as soon as Deandre Ayton was in the Suns’ sights. He was the neglected child in Phoenix.

In Houston, a contending team that is veteran-savvy, the need to develop Marquese is nonexistent. It is all about winning right now with guys that have playoff experience and are three-and-D threats. There is not much room for the Rockets to allow a third-year player to make rookie mistakes here and there if they are truly serious about making a title run. That is why Chriss rarely has his name called.

In Memphis, Marquese Chriss would receive the best opportunity of his career as the Grizzlies are ready to rebuild and invest time (and minutes) into their youth. Additionally for the Memphis Grizzlies, this would practically be another first round pick landed in the same deal.

The initial trade structure should be good enough for the Grizzlies to proceed with a formal agreement with the Rockets, but if they could also secure the rights to Marquese Chriss, Memphis needs to click accept and never look back. There is still time to unlock his potential as an athletic NBA big man.