December 15th is the date every NBA team has circled on its calendar, as that is the date that virtually every player in the league becomes available in a trade. Most, if not all, players who signed a free agent contract during the offseason can't be traded before December 15th.
The Memphis Grizzlies have four players who signed this summer as either their own free agents or from another team. The players they retained from free agency were Santi Aldama and Cam Spencer, and the players they signed from other teams were Ty Jerome and Jock Landale.
Santi Aldama, Jock Landale, and Cam Spencer have all played key roles as each of them is averaging at least 21.2 minutes per game. Ty Jerome was expected to be a key reserve after finishing as a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season, but a calf injury has prevented him from making his debut with the team yet. As these players become trade-eligible, let's review if the Grizzlies would consider making a move with each one.
Santi Aldama - Maybe later in a package for a star
The Grizzlies wasted no time re-signing Santi Aldama as a restricted free agent when the signing period opened up. He was their best player off the bench last season, and he received a well-deserved raise after signing a three-year, $52.5 million contract.
He has proven them right, averaging a career-high in points (13.1), rebounds (6.5), assists (3.0), and steals (1.0), and consistently being available for whatever role is asked of him between the small forward, power forward, and center positions. While the Grizzlies likely won't look to move on from him willingly, if a move for a star player becomes possible, Santi would likely be the top player to be moved.
Ty Jerome - Maybe after the season
Signing Ty Jerome was the Grizzlies' splash move of the offseason, as he was brought in to replace some of the production left by trading away Desmond Bane. The team also got him on a bargain deal of three years, $28 million, which was less than what he was projected to receive.
However, he suffered a grade 2 calf strain during their last preseason game and isn't expected to return until at least the beginning of January. With the emergence of another player to be talked about, his role has been brought into question. But, likely, the team wants to see how they look with him in the lineup, so finishing this season with the team is likely the outcome for Jerome.
Cam Spencer - No way
The biggest surprise of the Grizzlies' season is probably Cam Spencer. He has more than replaced the Luke Kennard role as a sharp shooter, and looks poised to take on the combo guard role off the bench that was supposed to be played by Ty Jerome. He leads the team in three-point percentage with 46.5% made on 4.8 attempts per game, is third in assists with 3.9, and is averaging double-digit points with 11.1.
Also, his contract is probably the biggest bargain on the team, after signing a four-year, $10.4 million deal this offseason. He isn't going anywhere and might make either Ty Jerome or Scotty Pippen Jr. expendable down the road.
Jock Landale - Probably not
On a one-year, $2.2 million contract, Jock Landale is likely not going anywhere. His value as a reserve big man has been decent this season, after starting a little rough as a starter due to injuries. But he is currently second on the team in three-point percentage at 43.1%, and is averaging a career-high in points (10.9) and rebounds (5.4). For a player who was expected to be the third-string center, that's high production that might make injured big man Brandon Clarke expendable.