Stop me if you've heard this before: The Memphis Grizzlies are the team that no one wants to run into. With a four-man core as good as any in the NBA, the Grizzlies are dominating on the defensive end of the floor and looking the part of a potential contender—so long as they can acqurie the missing piece.
For as promising as that reality is, it's eerily reminiscent of the indecision that resulted in the Grit and Grind era of Grizzlies basketball failing to produce a championship.
Memphis' Grit and Grind era was the most productive and prominent in franchise history. The Grizzlies produced three consecutive 50-win seasons during that time, as well as their first and only Western Conference Finals appearance.
Unfortunately, the narrative that continued to follow Memphis throughout that time was that they were the right trade away from taking the next step.
Fast forward to 2024-25 and the Grizzlies are on pace to secure their third 50-win season in four tries. It's yet to make it past the second round of the playoffs with its current core, although Ja Morant gives the franchise an offensive superstar to which no one who predates him truly compares.
If the Grizzlies are going to become a true contender and not just another 50-win team, however, they'll need to make the trade they were resistant to during the previous generation.
Grizzlies can't afford to remain quiet at the trade deadline
All seems to be going well for the Grizzlies in 2024-25. They're No. 5 in the NBA in winning percentage, net rating, and offensive rating, as well as No. 7 in defensive rating, No. 6 in eFG%, and No. 3 in opponent field goal percentage.
Every one of those numbers implies that the Grizzlies are a genuinely elite team, but one can't help but feel as though they're still a step away from that status.
Despite their success, flaws exist in Memphis that could prove significant come the playoffs. For instance, they're No. 22 in the NBA in opponent second-chance points, as well as No. 27 in points allowed off of turnovers.
Perhaps a trade isn't the answer in either of those scenarios, but the question facing the Grizzlies remains: Is this team good enough to defeat the best teams in the Western Conference?
Perhaps the trio of Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Morant is, in fact, enough to compete with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. The question then exists, however, if one of the worst teams in the NBA at preventing second-chance points has an answer for Isaiah Hartenstein.
Perhaps that answers the question of what the Grizzlies need—or perhaps it opens up an entirely new discussion.
Memphis has every reason to bet on its core three players staying healthy and producing the postseason many have been waiting for. It also has a rotation without a single player seeing upward of 30 minutes per game, however, which could result in an overexertion of players who aren't ready for a shorter rotation during the playoffs.
It's possible that Memphis' patience will pay off, but if history has proven anything, it's that complacency has cost them dearly in this very situation.