It is no secret that the Memphis Grizzlies are seeking a veteran 3-and-D wing ahead of the NBA trade deadline. They struck out on a trade attempt for former Brooklyn Nets' forward Dorian Finney-Smith last month, put their name in the hat to acquire Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler early this month, and have been rumored to be interested in Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson.
As the team prepares for the return of GG Jackson (who will play for the Memphis Hustle tonight), Marcus Smart (any given week), and Vince Williams Jr. (by month's end) they won't have enough time with their full roster to know if they need to make a move before the February 6th trade deadline date.
Marcus Smart provides the veteran leadership and defense that they need and GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. both provide the youth and toughness the team lacked in their battle against the Houston Rockets.
While the Grizzlies might be a title contender as currently constructed if everyone is healthy, obtaining an additional wing with size (Marcus Smart and Vince Williams Jr. lack) and playoff experience (GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., Jaylen Wells, and Jake LaRavia lack) is important for the team to at least make more attempts.
Should they consider a trade for Bruce Brown?
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report released "1 Trade Every NBA Team Should Propose Right Now" on January 14th and had the Grizzlies making a trade for a name that hadn't been included in anything before that point. Toronto Raptors forward/guard Bruce Brown made his season debut for the Raptors on December 29th after missing their first 31 games of the season due to right knee surgery.
Listed at 6'4", he doesn't meet the size requirement in the height department, but he has been known to hang with bigger wings on the defensive end throughout his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets. His time with the Nuggets during the 2022-2023 season is the player any contender considering a trade from him would want.
He was arguably their most important bench player on their way to the NBA Championship, averaging 12 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals on 51.1% shooting. Although his regular season stats got better during his short stint with the Indiana Pacers last season, they have made a turn for the first since he was traded to the Toronto Raptors.
However, if the Grizzlies were to consider a trade for the veteran wing he would go back to the role that made him a key component to a championship team with the Denver Nuggets. He can also play positions 1-4, so when the Grizzlies have to cut the rotation short come playoff time, he would be able to spell minutes for nearly anyone on the court.
The Grizzlies have no shortage of options when it comes to looking into the wing trade market. If they want to be a strong title contender for this season, consolidating their depth by trading for a wing (without giving up any of their young wings) is the move to make to solidify their standing as a Western Conference contender.