3 realistic targets for the Memphis Grizzlies at the trade deadline

The Memphis Grizzlies have been one of the best teams in the NBA since Christmas and currently enjoy having the third-best record in the NBA (38-18), trailing only the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors.

Much can be said about the team that got us into this position in the first place: a small chunk of the season was played without Ja Morant and an even bigger chunk without Dillon Brooks.

There is some concern among Grizzlies fans that nothing should be done to mess up the team chemistry. There’s sizable support for the team to punt at the trade deadline— ride with the crew that’s strapped a rocket to their backs and is in contention for home court advantage in the playoffs.

There’s a sect of fans that want the front office to act now on some players that will be free agents in the off-season (i.e. Kyle Anderson and Tyus Jones). Instead of spending heavily on two bench players, could the team upgrade and consolidate for one player?

The move could save precious cap room in preparation for the looming (and very deserving) Godfather offer coming Ja Morant’s way when he becomes eligible for a max-contract extension.

How the Memphis Grizzlies front office handles the trade deadline will be telling

Whether or not the front office acts at the trade deadline will give us some indication of whether or not they expect the team to compete for a title this season, or punt until next season.

If the front off stands pat and makes no significant deals, we’ll know they will probably look to make a significant move in the offseason.

If the Memphis Grizzlies execute a trade now, we’ll know the front office is expecting to compete and compete now, moving up a timeline that seemed years away before the start of the 2021-22 season.

I’m in the camp of the latter, believing the team should make a move now while the stars seem to be aligning for an opportunity to make a run in the NBA playoffs. You never know what next season may hold, which super stars may jump to other teams and which teams try to leap-frog the Grizzlies.

The ideal player would have some playoff experience, can shoot from the outside and would tolerate coming off the bench, if necessary.

With that being said, let’s take a look at the framework for three trades the Grizzlies could make that would be win-now moves without breaking the bank.