Since selecting Ja Morant second overall back in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies have been viewed by the masses as perhaps the most promising young team in the league. Now, heading into the 2023-24 campaign, the hope is that they can take a leap forward and thrust themselves into the legitimate contender conversation.
Many such as newly-acquired guard Marcus Smart believe the team is “so close” to entering such a group, with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne suggesting that the Grizzlies are perhaps the biggest threat to the reigning champion, Denver Nuggets.
However, though they may be viewed as having a shot, for them to be considered a title favorite it’s evident there’s still work that needs to be done.
Adding more star power to their arsenal could be priority number one.
In the modern-day NBA, such assets are all the rage when it comes to vying for a title. That said, finding the right fit is easily the most important factor of all.
Recently, there have been a number of star players rumored to be available for the right price, some of whom have already been linked to the Grizzlies.
That said, not all of these individuals are seamless fits within Taylor Jenkins’ rotation. In fact, there are three, in particular, that the Grizzlies should steer clear of.
Stars the Memphis Grizzlies must avoid
3. DeMar DeRozan
This summer, a major emphasis for the Memphis Grizzlies has been adding veteran talents to their young roster. From Marcus Smart to Derrick Rose, the idea has seemingly been to surround the club’s premier talents with experienced individuals to help keep them focused and held in check.
One star veteran who also plays a position of need at the wing in DeMar DeRozan could easily be seen by some as the next logical target for the front office to continue bolstering the team’s talent pool and, in turn, add some much-needed wisdom along the way.
While there are certainly several things to like about such an addition, considering the presumably high cost it would take to entice his current employers in the Chicago Bulls to consider a deal, coupled with his desire for a new long-term lofty payday, a pursuit for the DeRozan may not be in the best interest for the Grizzlies after all.
Tack on the fact that they still desperately need some extra long-range firepower (ranked 23 in 3-point shooting during the regular season and third-worst in the playoffs), and coughing up what is likely to be ample assets for a high-priced forward who boasts a career shooting clip of 29.1 percent from deep may not be the ideal option.
They’d be better off putting their proverbial chips in a basket for a younger talent with a higher shooting efficiency.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns
Ironically, directly after saying the Grizzlies should look to target young talents with high shooting efficiency, we find someone who fits this mold precisely with Minnesota Timberwolves star, Karl-Anthony Towns.
Argued by some–namely himself–to already be the best floor-spacing big man of all time, the 27-year-old sports a career long-range shooting clip of 39.5 percent and has breezed past the 40 percent mark on four separate occasions throughout his eight-year tenure in the association.
So why is he on this “do not pursue” list, you may ask?
Well, his inclusion largely comes down to two major red flags: Health concerns and cost.
Since the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign, the tantalizing pivot has played in 60 or more games just once and has failed to log over 35 games twice due to a myriad of injuries.
This past season, Towns suited up for a mere 25 outings largely due to a serious calf strain.
These concerns paired with the high price it would take not only to snag him via trade but to re-up with him long-term (slated to hit unrestricted free agency in 2024) are not necessarily the type of risks a team that has finished in the second seed in two consecutive seasons should look to take.
Not at this point in time, anyway.
1. Pascal Siakam
Of late, Pascal Siakam has been a name linked to the Grizzlies as being a realistic trade option to consider. On July 11, Mike Luciano of Raptors Rapture even went as far as to construct what a hypothetical blockbuster transaction between Memphis and Toronto could wind up looking like.
Without a doubt, the 29-year-old is easily one of the most interesting talents when it comes to his astonishing combination of length (6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan) and on-court abilities that allow him to run the floor like a point forward.
However, as has been suggested already in this piece alone, Memphis should seriously consider addressing their wing depth, particularly with individuals who can play defense and, most importantly, shoot the three.
While Siakam is an impressive defender, regardless of his astounding capabilities, he simply does not address these other two aforementioned needs for the club which, frankly, are vital for any team looking to contend.
The two-time All-Star is an inconsistent long-range shooter (boasts a 32.7 percent career clip) and a natural four, which is a position already occupied by fellow star Jaren Jackson Jr.
Even if they did opt to pursue the likes of Siakam, slot him at the four, and, in turn, slide JJJ down to the five, they’d still have zero answers at small forward which, outside of point guard, could easily be argued as the most import position in the game today.
The Grizzlies inquiring about a trade with the Raptors is by no means a far-fetched concept, especially after seeing star Fred VanVleet bolt for the Houston Rockets this summer. That said, there’s a strong argument to be made that Pascal Siakam is not the player GM Zach Kleiman should be pursuing.
3 realistic trade targets to make Grizzlies championship favorites
This summer, the Memphis Grizzlies should strongly consider pursuing the likes of three rather realistic targets rumored to be on the trade market.