Timing is everything, and the Grizzlies have found the perfect timing to have their roster at near-to-full health with Marcus Smart and Vince Williams Jr. being upgraded to questionable for their game at the Toronto Raptors on February 5th. However, Desmond Bane suffered an ankle/foot sprain in their win over the Milwaukee Bucks on February 2nd which will keep him out of their game tomorrow.
While the team prepares to be the healthiest it has been, the trade deadline stares them squarely in the face. The Grizzlies have been linked to several different 3-and-D wings over the last month but have remained still as they worked to get everyone back to properly assess their roster.
However, time has run out and they only have one game remaining until decisions have to be made about their roster for the rest of the season. A surprising player has caught the eye of the Grizzlies and his fit with the team makes sense for the short-term.
Lonzo Ball has received interest from the Memphis Grizzlies
Senior NBA Insider Michael Scotto published a story for HoopsHype about trade talks and mentioned the Grizzlies as a suitor for Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball. The Grizzlies' need list is short but their preference has been to focus on a veteran wing 3-and-D player.
Lonzo Ball can knock out two birds with one stone as his primary position is point guard but he has the size (6'6") of a wing player and is a good defender and capable shooter. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins likes to play two-point guard lineups and Lonzo Ball would present an upgrade over Scotty Pippen Jr. in those instances.
As good as Scotty Pippen Jr. has been this season, adding a veteran ball handler behind Ja Morant will do wonders for the team come playoff time. Lonzo can technically check off their box of a 3-and-D wing and backup point guard upgrade in one player.
His contract is also expiring, and the Grizzlies are potentially looking into preserving salary for the pending contract extension that is coming for Jaren Jackson Jr. and retaining Santi Aldama, who is a restricted free agent this offseason.
While Ball missed the last two seasons due to multiple knee surgeries, he has been mostly healthy for the Chicago Bulls since the end of November. The bonus of the Grizzlies' interest in Lonzo Ball is that he could be a potential buyout candidate if the team is unable to execute a trade for him.
Look for Memphis to make a move in some form by Thursday's 2:00 PM CST deadline, even if it is to consolidate their roster to open up a roster spot to test the buyout market for a player of Ball's caliber.