Outside of a single blockbuster trade, the Memphis Grizzlies had been having an extremely quiet offseason. Despite an overflowing roster, there weren’t any moves being made. Not in the trade market, not in free agency, and not within the organization.
In all likelihood, this was as a result of the fact that their trade with the New Orleans Pelicans hadn’t technically gone through until this morning (Friday, August 6th). After the draft, it had been an extremely quiet week.
Today, that changed.
The Grizzlies followed up their trade involving Jonas Valanciunas with another big-name player. Fortunately for Memphis, this player isn’t quite as valuable. That said, they’ll be losing a player in Grayson Allen who started a handful of games in 2020 on an injury-riddled roster.
Memphis is trading guard Grayson Allen to Milwaukee for Sam Merrill and two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 6, 2021
That’s right, the Grizz traded Allen to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a pair of future second-round picks and Sam Merrill, a former 60th overall pick a couple of seasons ago.
The Memphis Grizzlies are continuing to stockpile for the future, even at today’s cost
For Grizzlies fans, this trade makes a single fact as clear as day — Memphis isn’t satisfied with their current roster. Not yet, at least.
Clearly, Memphis made this trade solely to acquire the two second-round picks. Even if the value doesn’t match up with what Grayson Allen has brought to Beale Street in the past couple of seasons, the same narrative holds true that we’ve been saying all offseason. The Grizz front office doesn’t care about their 2021 results — they want to fight for an NBA Title down the road.
Pair this with the fact that drafting Ziaire Williams all but guaranteed that Allen would never be a starter again on the Grizzlies and there was simply no room for the former Duke guard. Even with Allen gone, the Grizzlies still have a huge list of wings including Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane, De’Anthony Melton, Ziaire Williams, John Konchar, and Sean McDermott.
Allen was also approaching a payday, which the Grizzlies likely didn’t have the projected cap room to execute.
With a pair of future second-round picks, Memphis may be able to formulate a trade down the road that could bring a high-profile player to come to play alongside Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. It’s not a blockbuster move, but it’s a play in the right direction.
If you’re a Grizzlies fan, you can’t be too upset about losing Allen’s 10 PPG. For the Bucks, you’re getting an immediate replacement for Brynn Forbes, who left after Milwaukee won the title.