Budding star tabbed as top ‘trade target’ for Grizzlies
By Mark Nilon
This summer, the Memphis Grizzlies showed that they’re willing to make some serious moves to better their odds of contending for an NBA Championship. Headlined by the blockbuster acquisition of veteran guard Marcus Smart, it’s evident that GM Zach Kleiman and company are looking to improve Taylor Jenkins’ roster heading into 2023-24.
Of course, as fans and media pundits are already aware, despite addressing some of the club’s rotational and locker room weaknesses this offseason, the Grizzlies are still a ways away from being considered a flawless roster.
That said, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley believes there’s a player Memphis has been linked to for some time now who can help inch them closer to such a moniker.
Mikal Bridges tabbed as a top ‘trade target’ for Memphis Grizzlies
Mikal Bridges is someone the Grizzlies have been reported as being interested in acquiring for a while, and Michael Scotto of HoopsHype has gone on record to note that the franchise offered as many as four future first-round picks to the Phoenix Suns before shipping him off to the Brooklyn Nets in the Kevin Durant blockbuster at last year’s deadline.
Of course, these attempts wound up being for naught, but Buckley suggests that if Memphis still views the forward as a formidable answer to their vacancy out on the wing, then perhaps they should look to pursue him or even one other two-way stud out in the Atlantic Division via trade.
"“The Grizzlies can count on newcomer Marcus Smart to bring emotional leadership, dominant defense and plenty of playmaking to Beale Street. What they can’t do, though, is be certain that their summer spending will have finally addressed their need for a two-way wing. If Memphis feels that’s the only box unchecked on its championship checklist, then it could justify forking over a pile of picks and prospects to add this elusive puzzle piece,” Buckley wrote.“Bridges and Anunoby were both on Memphis’ radar at the trade deadline, and they could be more obtainable over the course of this coming season. The Nets could learn they don’t have enough to compete while Bridges is in his prime, and the Raptors may accept that a rebuild is inevitable.”"
Selected 10 overall back in the 2018 NBA Draft, Bridges has proven himself to be one of the most promising young talents on both ends of the floor and is coming off an impressive 2022-23 season where he posted averages of 20.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and just shy of a block on 46.8 percent shooting from the field and 38.2 percent shooting from deep.
Adding such a talent to a core already consisting of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane would automatically thrust the Grizzlies into the always coveted legitimate title contender conversation.
While the Nets have given little to no indication that they’re even considering moving on from their $90.9 million man, at the very least Memphis should be keeping a close eye on the situation moving forward.
