The Memphis Grizzlies are approaching the 2025 NBA trade deadline in a captivating position. Memphis is back near the top of the Western Conference standings, in possession of a surplus of future first-round draft picks, and commonly regarded as a team that others would like to trade with.
Much of the speculation surrounding the Grizzlies' trade deadline activity centers around veteran guard and former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart.
Smart, 30, is one of the best defensive players of his generation, as well as a proven postseason performer. He's also been mentioned in trade rumors since the 2024 offseason, due in no small part to the emergence of Scotty Pippen Jr. as a key reserve.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Grizzlies aren't quite as interested in trading Smart, nor Brandon Clarke, as the spreading narratives would suggest.
"Memphis has shown some cards around the league that it is looking into consolidation trades, as evidenced by the team's recent efforts to ship Luke Kennard and John Konchar to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney-Smith. But that would have been a much smaller deal than adding Marcus Smart or Brandon Clarke to the package as would be required for Butler. Smart and Clarke both rank as players Memphis values quite highly, sources said."
It's easy to be intrigued by what the Grizzlies could get in a Clarke or Smart trade, but there's reason to believe keeping them on the roster would be advantageous.
Memphis Grizzlies rate Marcus Smart highly, unlikely to trade him
Smart has played well in limited minutes, providing his signature brand of defensive intensity and producing in virtually every area. He's currently averaging 9.2 points, 3.8 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 0.8 offensive boards, and 1.3 steals in just 21.2 minutes per game.
Those numbers translate to 15.5 points, 6.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 offensive boards, and 2.2 steals per 36 minutes—the type of production any team would love to have off the bench.
Smart has shot inefficiently in 2024-25, but that's become part of what teams accept from him. His strength on offense is his aggressiveness and willingness to create when his team is otherwise staggered, including a willingness to miss the shots that many don't want to attempt.
It's why he's already accumulated 108 games of postseason experience, including 73 starts, five trips to the Conference Finals, and an NBA Finals appearance.
Unfortunately, the shifting hierarchy in Memphis has opened the door to trade speculation. Desmond Bane, Ja Morant, and Jaylen Wells are all but locked in as starters, while Pippen takes on lead guard duties off the bench and Luke Kennard provides valuable floor-spacing contributions.
The Grizzlies have admittedly decreased playing time across the board to create a deep and balanced rotation, but come the playoffs, the distribution of minutes will favor the starters.
For as true as that may be, Smart's postseason experience will likely be what keeps him with the Grizzlies if they opt against trading him. Memphis has made the playoffs in three of the past four seasons, but it hasn't made it past the second round since 2013.
There may be an intriguing haul for the Grizzlies to collect if Smart is traded, but they seem to believe that there's even more value to be found in his presence.