It wasn't long ago that Brandon Clarke was one of the steals of the 2019 NBA Draft and a major key to the team's success. Clarke was one of the team's biggest heroes in the Grizzlies' last playoff series win against the Timberwolves in 2022. Unfortunately, good things almost always come to end, and the Grizzlies must move on from Brandon Clarke this summer.
Brandon Clarke was selected 21st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, and the Grizzlies acquired his draft rights from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite being an older prospect, Clarke took the league by storm, winning 2019 NBA Summer League MVP and landing on NBA All-Rookie First Team. It did not take long for Brandon Clarke to become one of the best sixth-mans in the league early on.
Unfortunately Clarke's availability has been a huge problem
Following the end of this season, Brandon Clarke will have just one season left on his four-year $50 million contract. Technically, Clarke will be eligible for a four-year $92 million contract extension once the NBA Finals conclude. Let's be real, the Grizzlies have no reason to even consider making that move.
In the span of his current deal, Clarke has appeared in just 72 of a possible 246 regular season games, far from ideal for Grizzlies fans. To his credit, Clarke played in 64 games in the 2024-25 season, but that was just one of two career seasons that he played in 60 or more regular season contests.
Given the long-term concerns with Edey's health, the Grizzlies simply need to stack their frontcourt depth and have options that are consistently available.
Moving on now will speed up the frontcourt overhaul the Grizzlies need
Clarke's skillset when healthy still remains very valuable given his ability to rebound and add to the defense. Unfortunately, it is simply challenging to rely on Clarke to be consistently available. Another key factor to consider is that Clarke will be 30 years old on Opening Night and is on a downward career trajectory. In 20.8 minutes per contest, Clarke has averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.5 stocks (steals and blocks) in 309 career games.
One of the challenging things for Clarke, being a tweener at 6-foot-8, is the lack of 3-point shooting. Even though his defense and rebounding still carry value, the lack of a reliable three-point shot could prove to be problematic given the post-injury athletic concerns. Clarke has just one year left on his deal and likely has limited value; however, he still remains an expiring contract that teams could take on.
Zach Edey is looking like a very important franchise cornerstone, but the Grizzlies must commit to rebuilding the frontcourt behind him, starting with a Brandon Clarke trade. Even though Brandon Clarke got off to a very bright start in Memphis, the clear best move for both parties is to move on this summer.