As the 2024-25 NBA season progresses near the February 6th trade deadline, teams across the league will look to supplement their clubs with necessary contending level pieces for those with championship aspirations.
The Memphis Grizzlies currently sit at the third seed in the Western Conference, only a game and a half ahead of the fourth-seed Denver Nuggets. Memphis will likely be looking to supplement their available wing rotation as the intensity of the competition ramps up.
With youth leading the team's surge this season, veteran and former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart could be moved as minutes are spread more thoroughly through the young core. Smart, who is only 30 years old, will likely command attention from teams in both conferences who wish to bolster their backcourts with the savvy defensive-minded guard who can catch fire from beyond the arc.
While there won't be the widest market for the guard who has seen a mix of success and is currently healing from a finger injury, his nearly twenty million dollar annual salary, which extends through the 2025-26 season, could be tempting for teams looking to move high-value contracts.
Los Angeles Clippers
At first glance, the Clippers seem to be a team on the cusp of high-level contention as they currently sit at the 8th seed in the Western Conference and have been dealing with their fair share of ups and downs during the 2024-25 season campaign.
While the club rests narrowly on the edge of missing the postseason, it's not unreasonable to imagine a scenario in which the Clippers make a definitive decision to focus on rebuilding the team's young core and making the most of what remains of the season.
On the top of their trade asset list would unquestionably be the versatile wing, Norman Powell, who at times has provided a fierce all-around presence for the Clippers, which a top-notch contending team such as the Grizzlies could be eager to add to the ranks.
A potential trade for Powell would line up salary-wise for both this season and next compared to Smart's, but the Clippers would most likely look for extra compensation as a way to sweeten the deal from Memphis.
By potentially adding a pair of second-round picks, the Grizzlies could theoretically pull off a deal that would see them add much-needed wing depth to the team while not sacrificing defensive presence.
Smart's timeline in Los Angeles would be questionable beyond the current contract which extends into next year, but could be viewed as an asset in building up younger players on the team.
Miami Heat
Arguably the most obvious potential trade partner candidate, it has become common knowledge that NBA Star Jimmy Butler has been seeking an exit from the team to pursue the opportunity to contend elsewhere.
Similarly to a trade for Powell, the Grizzlies would likely need to add extra incentives for Miami, not only to sweeten the deal but also to attempt to balance out the salaries as the nearly thirty million per year difference between Smart and Butler would need to be at least partially filled.
While results with Miami have not given Butler any championship hardware, trips to the NBA finals led by his tenacity and zeal could persuade the Grizzlies to move for the veteran to push them over the top and contend against the league's best teams.
A potential deal for Butler is still uncertain as the price tag is undecided. Still, with the trade deadline looming less than a month away, Miami brass may look to relieve themselves of Butler's contract sooner rather than later. While giving away assets for an older star to play around a young core would seem counterproductive at the surface level, the intangible values that Butler offers cannot be underestimated.
Portland Trail Blazers
Naturally, an ideal trade for Marcus Smart would give the Grizzlies assets that can provide similar defensive prowess within the recently volatile frontcourt, which has seen a rash of injuries. With his savvy offensive orchestration and outside shooting, Smart's all-around value would reasonably push the Grizzlies to seek a haul in return.
Among teams that are looking to better identify themselves in another direction is the Portland Trail Blazers, who currently sit toward the bottom of the Western Conference rankings with little to cling to. Despite a shaky record and uncertain futures for many of the team's assets, there's an opportunity this season to make the best of a bad situation and move players who are unlikely to stay long-term.
Two such players, Robert Williams III and Matisse Thybulle, could become valuable trade assets should the Grizzlies become convinced of their potential to bolster their frontcourt rotation. A theoretical trade would likely include Marcus Smart paired with another Grizzlies player in return for the Trailblazers pair, and would line up contract-wise as well as expiring after the following season.
With the trade deadline only a few weeks away, the Grizzlies will be looking to solidify their team as a championship contender, and with rumors primarily being circulated around the younger backcourt, Smart could see his time in Memphis come to an end.