We’re about a month away from the start of training camp and the Memphis Grizzlies are still constructing the roster for the 2021-22 NBA season.
As of the time that I’m writing this article, the team requires several transactions to trim the roster down to the league maximum of 15 players. The most optimal way to reduce the roster would be in the form of trades.
Kyle Anderson is entering the final year of his contract with the Memphis Grizzlies and will be playing at the age of 28 this NBA season
The Grizzlies will soon have to make a big decision regarding Anderson: sign him to a contract extension, trade him, or let him walk in free agency next offseason.
Anderson’s value as a player has never been higher. He averaged a career-high 12.4 points per game last season for the Grizzlies while pulling down 5.7 rebounds. He also dished out a career-best 3.6 points per game last season.
The seven-year veteran is due for a significant contract extension that the Grizzlies may not want to pay. The Memphis Grizzlies have been making moves to get players on the same age timeline as Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, Jr., which is why it seems unlikely the Grizzlies would want to commit a sizable portion of cap space to someone who will be playing into their early-to-mid 30s by the end of the hypothetical next contract.
This is why finding a suitable trade partner could allow the team to collect an asset or two instead of allowing Anderson to walk for nothing.
Kyle Anderson would be the perfect rental for a team in playoff contention that may just be one piece of the puzzle to make a run at an NBA championship. Alternatively, the team could deal him to a team looking to tank and trim salary from their books next season.
Additionally, if a trade is made for Kyle Anderson, it could allow Desmond Bane to enter the starting line-up and allow Ziaire Williams and Jarrett Culver a few looks during meaningful minutes.
The first scenario is a three-team deal that involves the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors, and the Memphis Grizzlies.
A lot of big names could be involved to make this deal work, such as Kyle Anderson, Kevin Love, and Andrew Wiggins.
It’s a three-team trade that would allow the Memphis Grizzlies to get a veteran mentor for a season, while still clearing a roster spot and cap space after next season.
Rubio would help not only Ja Morant but also rookie and fellow Spaniard, Santi Aldama. Having a steady, familiar guiding presence for Aldama may help him get acclimated to the pace and lifestyle of the NBA. The team could net a couple of second-round draft picks for helping facilitate players to make the salaries work.
Golden State gets more championship experience by bringing in Kevin Love, who could provide them with yet another 3-point threat, excellent passing, and superb rebounding. Draymond Green could help make up for Love’s defensive shortcomings. Cleveland could chip in a heavily protected 1st round pick for the burden of having Love on the books for two seasons.
Cleveland gets two expiring contracts in Kyle Anderson and Rajon Rondo. But, the real get would be clearing space for Evan Mobley, the 3rd overall draft pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, to get uninterrupted minutes. Wiggins is also a nice get, where he could play on the wing next season and be used as a trade chip in 2022-23 when he will be on an expiring contract.
The next scenario the Memphis Grizzlies could consider is a mega-deal involving three teams.
The hypothetical trade involves nine players being swapped between the Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, and the Los Angeles Clippers. Kyle Anderson, Dillon Brooks, and Deni Avdija highlight this hypothetical deal.
This is a trade that nets the Grizzlies a prospect from the Washington Wizards gives the Clippers some depth and reliable contributors while Kawhi Leonard is sidelined and the Wizards get some expiring contracts and a scrappy veteran in Dillon Brooks.
In his rookie season for the Wizards, Deni Avdija did his best to acclimate himself to the NBA, scoring 6.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The 6’ 9” forward out of Israel is a project, but one that could have a high ceiling.
The Memphis Grizzlies would be able to clear some roster spots if they were to buy out Montrezl Harrell and Thomas Bryant, both of whom are in the final years of their respective deals.
For the Wizards, this trade is about getting two 25-year-olds that are known commodities that can contribute and play meaningful minutes.
The Clippers, in this deal, get immediate help from the void left by the injured Kawhi Leonard. Reports indicate Leonard may miss the entire 2021-22 NBA season, according to the LA Times. If that’s the case, Kyle Anderson or Caldwell-Pope could start in his place and help the Clippers return to the playoffs. Kyle Anderson would be a great complement to Paul George next season.
The ultimate scenario for the Memphis Grizzlies to trade Kyle Anderson involves a two-team, sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls.
This trade is a bit more straightforward. The Grizzlies would get two prospects who are similar in age to Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, Jr., and the Bulls would get veteran depth and leadership (plus future draft capital) on a team that is gearing up to make a serious run at the playoffs.
The current incarnation of the Bulls has little in the way of proven playoff leaders, so netting Kyle Anderson and Rajon Rondo would be perfect additions to their team.
In order for the Bulls to get that veteran leadership and depth, they would need to involve Lauri Markkanen in a sign-and-trade along with the currently injured Coby White to Memphis.
It was reported that White had offseason surgery on his shoulder and would be re-evaluated in four months, according to the Chicago Tribune. Last season, White averaged an impressive 15.1 points per game, 4.8 assists per game, and 4.1 rebounds per game.
The Memphis Grizzlies would be willing to put in the work to bring out the best of Markkanen in Memphis, giving him a fresh start and pairing him with Jackson, Jr. and Ja Morant.
White would be able to slot in behind or alongside Ja Morant. White could flourish in either role in Memphis— giving instant offense as the sixth man or putting opposing defenses on skates with Morant, giving the team two attacking guards.
The Memphis Grizzlies would likely need to trade multiple drafts picks in the deal, but having these two promising players under contract for several years could make the deal worthwhile.