Before June 15th, Grizzlies fans were awaiting an off-season that would hopefully bring many roster moves that could improve the team’s outlook going into next year. To most fans' surprise, they didn’t have to wait long because on Sunday morning, the news broke that the Memphis Grizzlies were trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (KCP), Cole Anthony, four first-round picks, and a pick swap over the next five seasons. The trade, while surprising to most, made sense for the Grizzlies.
Bane was coming off an average regular season, where he averaged 19.2 points and shot 39.2% from three. Bane also had a subpar showing in the Grizzlies' round playoff series loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he averaged only 15.3 points and struggled from the field, shooting 21.9% from three and 31.7% from the field.
He was also making the most money on the team with a salary of $34 million, and it was set to increase over the next four years of his contract. Despite his lackluster season, Bane was one of the most tenured Grizzlies on the team and a fan favorite. However, with the Grizzlies' trend of disappointing seasons continuing, General Manager Zach Kleiman knew this team needed to be shaken up, and the first domino to fall was Bane.
The trade gave the team some much-needed flexibility to make room for Jaren Jackson Jr.’s upcoming extension, potential free agents, and tradable assets to improve the roster this offseason. With this new flexibility, Kleiman has an entire offseason to make the changes necessary to make this team a contender. There’s a good chance the roster looks a lot different from now to when the season starts in October. Here are a few offseason targets Grizzlies fans should keep an eye on.
1. Cam Johnson
Cam Johnson is a name that Grizzlies fans should be familiar with. He’s been a dream trade target for years. His 3D play style is something the Grizzlies have been looking to acquire for a long time. He’s coming off a career year, scoring 18.8 points per game and shooting the three ball at a high clip at 39%. He also battled with a few injuries this past season, which isn’t great to hear with the current Grizzlies’ injury luck.
Still, his value is as high as ever after the Bane trade and for once, the Grizzlies have the assets to get him. Johnson could add some much-needed versatility at the wing position being able to guard positions 1-4 and being able to create his shot off the dribble, while being a catch and shoot threat. Johnson’s contract is also salary cap-friendly. He is set to make around $21 million next season and fits under the first apron, no matter if the Grizzlies decide to flip KCP’s contract or not.
If acquired, Johnson could add some veteran and championship-level experience at 29 years of age, being that he’s played in an NBA Finals before. Memphis has a lot of avenues to get this done, with players like Caldwell-Pope, Anthony, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, GG Jackson II, and Vince Williams all being available for trade with a combination of picks to get this done.
2. RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett is another player who fits the Grizzlies' need and budget. In his first full season in Toronto, he averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He’s set to make $27.7 million next season, and he’s only 25 years old. Outside of Morant, Memphis needs consistent offense from the perimeter, and Barrett can bring that. He has experience playing on and off the ball and can fulfill any role Memphis needs him to fill. An asset like Clarke could give Toronto some interior depth, while Williams Jr. and Konchar could bring defense to a thin wing rotation.
Trade Proposal:
Grizzlies Receive: RJ Barrett
Raptors Receive: Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr., 2028 and 2030 First Round Picks (via Orlando)
3. Trey Murphy III
Trey Murphy is another name that has been swirling around trade rumors. Even though it seems unlikely that the New Orleans Pelicans would trade to their division rivals, both teams could benefit from this deal. This past season was Murphy’s best yet as he averaged a career high in points, rebounds, and assists with 21.2, 5.1, and 3.5, respectively. Granted, his numbers were a little inflated with a bigger role on an injury-riddled Pelicans team, but his shooting percentages were respectable with 36.1% from three and 45.4% from the field.
He was the front-runner for the league’s Most Improved Player award before suffering a torn rotator cuff in March. Expected to make a full recovery, Murphy could be that third scorer that Memphis needs to take pressure off of Morant and Jackson Jr. Entering his fifth season, Murphy has the ceiling of an All-Star level player if he stays on the court.
That’s a risk Memphis may be willing to take. It’s been reported that no one on the Pelicans is untouchable, and they have a high asking price for Murphy. New Orleans is looking for a veteran who can play in the playoffs, a young prospect with potential, and multiple first-round picks. Memphis can put together a similar package.
Trade Proposal:
Grizzlies receive: Trey Murphy III
Pelicans receive: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, GG Jackson II, 2027 First Round Pick, 2030 First Round Pick (via Orlando)
4. Devin Booker
On the surface, Booker to Memphis sounds nothing short of a fantasy, but it seems to be more possible the more you look at it. Booker has been one of the best players in the league for the last five years, and the Grizzlies would love to add a legit star to their All-Star duo of Morant and Jackson Jr. The state of the Phoenix Suns can be seen as rocky to say the least, with them actively shopping Kevin Durant. Their experiment with Bradley Beal, along with Booker and Durant, has failed, and it seems like they are looking to blow it up.
Booker could fill the Bane absence perfectly while the Suns could fully transition into a rebuild. One of the four first round picks the Grizzlies acquired in the Bane trade was a swap rights in the 2026 draft with either Phoenix or the Washington Wizards. It has been reported that Phoenix is interested in sending Durant to the Houston Rockets because they have their first-round picks that they originally traded to the Brooklyn Nets to get Durant. Now that the Grizzlies own a pick from Phoenix, it’s not hard to imagine they want their pick back heading into a rebuild.
To add to the rumor mill, Josh Eberly of Sporting News and Hoop Magazine made a cryptic tweet hinting at the Grizzlies' interest in Booker. Likely, a third team will have to be involved to make this deal work. A Clarke, KCP, Anthony, and picks package more than likely isn’t good enough to acquire an All-NBA caliber player in Booker, despite the money working on both sides. It may be a stretch to imagine a Morant, Booker, Jackson Jr. big three, but crazier things have happened in the NBA.
Zach Kleiman has said that he doesn’t think this team is good enough, and all signs show that he’s going to be swinging big to try to bring a title to Memphis. The players mentioned would help towards that goal. Grizzlies fans should buckle up, because they should be in for an exciting offseason.