Grizzlies: Re-grading the Jonas Valanciunas-Eric Bledsoe trade

The Memphis Grizzlies continue to make trades stemming from the Valanciunas-Bledsoe deal, increasing value along the way

At this point, we’re so far removed from the original deal that it’s hard to look at this trade and make sense of it. That said, I’m going to give you two bullet points to reference with a breakdown of all of the assets that have gone back and forth in this deal.

To clarify, this is what has amounted from this deal, not what was originally involved.

• Grizzlies Give: Jonas Valanciunas, 17th-Overall Pick (Trey Murphy), 50th-Overall Pick (Brandon Boston)
• Grizzlies Have Received: Steven Adams, 10th-Overall Pick (Ziaire Williams), 30th-Overall Pick (Santi Aldama), Kris Dunn, Carsen Edwards, Daniel Oturu, Sam Merril, Jarrett Culver

For a second, take out the rest of the players listed and imagine the Grizzlies only received Ziaire Williams, Steven Adams, and Jarrett Culver in exchange for what they’ve given away. That would still be an excellent deal for the team on Beale Street.

Even if Culver isn’t the talent that he was thought to be a couple of years ago, it’s clear that he hasn’t even come close to his ceiling. With the way that Memphis has developed talent thus far, this is a guy who could finally fit into the shoes that he was expected to fit into on a really bad Timberwolves team.

Adams and Valanciunas, at least in the long term, are a wash. Neither were ever expected to be a long-term piece for the Grizzlies and if Memphis hadn’t traded away Valanciunas, they would have been forced to let him walk. Adams is in a similar situation, but Memphis will lose less value via the Kiwi center.

Ziaire Williams, much like Culver, will be another long-term piece. If he turns out to be an NBA star, it’ll make this deal look even better.

This may even be a premature re-grade, as the Grizzlies still have at least a trade or two ahead of them to trim down the roster. Still, as time goes on, this one gets better and better, as the assets keep piling in.

It’s hard to give this grade an A+, as it could reap even more benefits down the road. As a result, I’m going to give it the same grade that I gave it a few weeks ago.

Trade Grade: A