How the Grizzlies basically traded Jonas Valanciunas for six players

Kris Dunn, Memphis Grizzlies Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Kris Dunn, Memphis Grizzlies Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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There’s good news and there’s bad news for Memphis Grizzlies fans — I’ll give you the bad news first. Memphis made another trade, which somehow sent them in the wrong direction by adding more players to the team.

For the past week or so, the primary topic that fans have been talking about is how Memphis was planning on trimming their roster. The player that many fans looked to as a trade asset was Juan Hernangomez, who was brought over from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a trade earlier this summer.

Hernangomez was one of a few players that initially sent the Grizzlies over the league’s 15-man limit. After never being required to get a physical, it was assumed that he’d be traded. And that’s where the good news comes into play.

The Memphis Grizzlies continue to pull in value for Jonas Valanciunas with another steal of a trade

Somehow, the Grizzlies continue to make one high-value trade after another. This one was their fifth of the offseason, sending Juan Hernangomez to Boston for Kris Dunn, Carsen Edwards, and a second-round pick swap, which should fare well for the Grizzlies.

This trade is another that stems from the original deal which sent Jonas Valanciunas to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams, and first/second-round pick swaps. The Grizzlies have since flipped Eric Bledsoe, giving them another handful of players.

Some players that have made their way through Memphis and out the other end include Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo, and now Juan Hernangomez. Outside of Rondo, the Grizzlies have seemingly doubled their value with each player.

To give you a list, the Grizzlies trade Valanciunas for what has now turned into the following players.

  • Kris Dunn
  • Carson Edwards
  • Daniel Oturu
  • Jarrett Culver
  • Ziaire Williams
  • Santi Aldama

In short, the trade is the reason why the Grizzlies are so far over the league’s player limit. The NBA allows for 15 rostered players and Memphis has 18. A trade involving Juan Hernangomez was originally expected to trim the roster, so it should come as confusing but somewhat expected that Memphis would make a deal like this.

The caveat here is that the Grizzlies will have to wait to make any further deals, as Dunn and Edwards’ contracts aren’t allowed to be aggregated until September 15th, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.

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Either way, this is another increase in value for the Memphis Grizzlies. They get more value and move in the opposite direction in terms of roster space again. Still, Memphis somehow flipped Jonas Valanciunas for what has turned into six players.