Grizzlies: Blockbuster trade for Zach LaVine could shake the entire NBA

The Memphis Grizzlies would become instantly competitive without signing an aging player

To me, there’s one glaring positive that’s impossible to get past before going any further in this article.

By trading for LaVine, the Grizzlies wouldn’t be trading away their future as they would in many other trade rumors. Instead, they’d be retaining Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., while bringing in a star player who should be in competitive shape for a few more seasons.

Zach LaVine is only 26-years old, just one year older than Dillon Brooks. The difference is that LaVine is a proven NBA star.

The fact that this trade has the Grizzlies trading away all three of the shooting guards on the team’s roster seems strange at first, but upon a closer look, this actually makes a lot of sense, at least on paper.

Last year, the Grizzlies had a trio of productive shooting guards in Desmond Bane, Grayson Allen, and De’Anthony Melton. That said, the two-guard spot was a clear weakness throughout the whole season, with none of these players averaging over 10.6 points per contest. While all of these players were strong backups, none of them have really emerged as a guy who can remain in that starting role. Enter Zach Lavine.

Make no mistake, Zach LaVine is an NBA star. He would join his UCLA teammate in Kyle Anderson and instantly elevate this Memphis team. If LaVine’s 27.4 points per contest didn’t help this team, his 41.9% 3-point shooting would. If not that, then it would be his athleticism.

The bottom line is that the Chicago Bull guard is the whole package. But in order to get the Bulls’ whole package, the Grizzlies have to give up a lot.