Grizzlies trade proposal lands $45.8 million Steven Adams replacement

For the first time since the 2004-05 season, the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves boasting a hapless 0-4 record to start a new campaign.

While there is still ample time for them to turn things around considering 78 games remain to be played on the docket, fans and media pundits alike find themselves stressing the idea that this front office should look into making some sort of shakeup.

Arguably the biggest weakness for Taylor Jenkins’ squad thus far into the season has proven to be their depth in the frontcourt, particularly at the pivot where they’ve had to shuffle things up on the fly to try and make up for the loss of Steven Adams who just days before regular season’s tip-off opted to undergo surgery on the posterior cruciate ligament, thus shelving him for 2023-24.

While the Grizzlies have gotten some sound production from replacement big Xavier Tillman in the role and just snatched up veteran Bismack Biyombo off the free agency market to fill out their reserves, a widespread opinion is that GM Zach Kleiman should consider stepping into action and making ancillary moves to strengthen the five spot.

Recently, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz penned a piece discussing one particular “panic” trade Memphis could partake in.

The proposed transaction reads as follows:

Trade proposal sends veteran center Clint Capela to the Memphis Grizzlies

Citing their need to try and find a starting center who can both mesh with Memphis’ established stars and “keep them in the playoff hunt” until superstar Ja Morant returns from his current 25-game suspension, Swartz believes a way to address these desires would be to trade for Clint Capela from the Atlanta Hawks.

"“Capela, 29, is averaging a double-double for [a] seventh straight year with 10.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game thus far this season. He’s a strong rebounder who can protect the rim much like Adams, with both players primarily feeding off pick-and-roll-heavy point guards who find them cutting to the basket,” Swartz wrote.“Clarke is currently sidelined with an Achilles injury, although he’d be a good long-term addition to the Hawks frontcourt. LaRavia was the No. 19 overall pick in the 2022 draft, and Atlanta picks up an additional first-round selection to use or dangle as trade bait in future deals.”"

An established commodity who primarily focuses on the nitty-gritty aspects of the game, since 2018-19 Capela has sported impressive averages of 13.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks on 62.5 percent shooting from the field while boasting a tremendous career defensive rating of 106 and an offensive rebounding percentage of 14.7, which is just .1 lower than the best offensive board getter in the game today in Adams.

From a sheer skill-set perspective, there’s an argument to be made that the 29-year-old would be an ideal addition to this current Grizzlies roster, as he would help up their productivity in second-chance opportunities and rim protection while providing them with more of a lob threat down in the paint.

Should they be open to signing on for two years of his services with a price tag of $45.8 million, Swartz’s proposal could be a realistic way for Jenkins and co. to try and get back on track.

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