Grizzlies linked to potential trade involving $73 million sharpshooter
By Mark Nilon
Despite the looming Ja Morant suspension, the Memphis Grizzlies have seemingly set themselves up for yet another successful run heading into the 2023-24 campaign thanks to GM Zach Kleiman’s savvy decision-making both on the trade market and in free agency.
However, despite their current situation, the folks at Knicks Film School believe it’s “possible” the front office could be interested in involving themselves in one more specific transaction in the near future.
As recent rumblings will indicate, the New York Knicks are looking to part ways with their $73 million sharpshooter Evan Fournier, though, per Hoops Hype’s Micahel Scotto, their latest attempt to do so by means of a multi-team exchange fell flat.
During a July 24 episode of the KFS podcast, contributor Jeremey Cohen discussed with host Jonathan Macri the idea of the Grizzlies swooping in as a third party in a hypothetical Fournier deal, citing the remaining $7.4 million from the Dillon Brooks TPE acquired in the sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets as a potential luxury to use for a team’s undesired contract.
"“And the Grizzlies, they do have a decent amount of luxury tax space where they could do something, so it’s certainly possible that they could jump into this,” Cohen said."
While Cohen would go on to pull back on the reigns a bit with the Grizzlies’ inclusion, suggesting that “they’ve already got a pretty full roster” and that “they need to consolidate,” Macri would counter this skepticism by noting that they’ve partaken in similar exchanges in the past — a recent example being the Andre Iguodala deal back in 2019 –, but they’ve done so for draft capital.
Might this be yet another opportunity for the front office to continue stockpiling picks?
Considering Evan Fournier’s public criticisms of the Knicks during a July 17 interview with France’s L’Équipe, there may be a realistic scenario where Memphis could snag at least one of New York’s bevy of draft rights spanning over the next several seasons out of sheer desperation to move on.
