Memphis Grizzlies could ‘make a big swing for a wing’
By Mark Nilon
Without question, the Memphis Grizzlies are a team looking to contend, both in the now and for the many years to come.
From their assortment of top youngsters in stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., along with rising star Desmond Bane, to their recently refurbished collection of veteran presences in Steven Adams, Marcus Smart, and Derrick Rose, it’s evident that Grind City is gunning for glory as early as this coming season, and many analysts already see them as having a real shot of doing so.
However, despite their eagerness and notably revamped talent pool heading into 2023-24, GM Zach Kleiman and company may wish to consider further bolstering Taylor Jenkins’ rotation to shore up any and all weaknesses.
Easily the most concerning area within Memphis’ current lineup resides at the wing position, for they parted ways with long-tenured starter Dillon Brooks this offseason and, since his sign-and-trade to the Houston Rockets, they have yet to find a clear replacement for him in the first five unit.
Though the easiest method to fill said vacancy would be to simply promote from within, the most entertaining course of action would be for the front office to scour the trade market for an outsourced upgrade and, per Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype, the franchise has the assets necessary to do just that.
Grizzlies have the necessary assets to ‘make a big swing’ on the trade market
"“The Grizzlies hold the majority of their value in their core featuring Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, all of whom are within the Top 50. They lost Dillon Brooks in free agency but replaced him with Marcus Smart, who may have more value thanks to his great contract. They still have all their own first-round picks over the next seven drafts giving them enough assets to make a big swing for a wing that they desperately need,” Gozlan wrote."
Since Brooks’ departure fans and media pundits have been regularly constructing hypothetical plans to find a new primary small forward for the Grizzlies, with names ranging from rising star Mikal Bridges to sound role player Dorian Finney-Smith.
To us at BSB, arguably the most ideal target Memphis should consider pursuing if they were to look toward the trade route is Toronto Raptors 3&D forward OG Anunoby, who would create one of the best defensive trios in the league alongside Smart and Jackson Jr. while establishing a legitimate big-four with him, Jackson, Bane, and Morant.
In truth, there appear to be plenty of quality players out there that could be had for the right price and, in Gozlan’s eyes, the Grizzlies have the potential to nab virtually anyone they desire.
