Five minutes before the trade deadline ended, the Grizzlies finally made a move to trade Marcus Smart. ESPN Senior Insider Shams Charania broke the news that the Grizzlies traded Marcus Smart and a 2025 first-round pick to the Washington Wizards for two second-round picks.
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Marcus Smart and a 2025 first-round pick to the Washington Wizards in a multi-team trade that sends two second-round picks to Memphis, sources tell ESPN. Memphis creates roster flexibility with the move. pic.twitter.com/HoyqkvNLke
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
ESPN's Bobby Marks followed up Shams' report with the Grizzlies trading third-year forward Jake LaRavia to the Sacramento Kings as part of a three-team deal, adding on to the Marcus Smart trade. In all, the Grizzlies received two second-round picks for Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, and a first-round pick.
What does this mean for the team as presently constructed?
The Grizzlies struck out on their top targets
The Grizzlies had to settle on a return of Marvin Bagley III, and Johnny Davis, and a couple of second-round picks and shedding salary ahead of pending contract extensions for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama this off-season. As for this season, the team will likely look into the buyout market to add a veteran to their core who is currently seeded second in the Western Conference standings.
While this move wasn't what the fanbase expected when Smart and LaRavia's names were rumored in potential deals for players like Jimmy Butler and Cam Johnson, it showed what their real value was. Marcus Smart has been injured for the majority of his brief time with the Grizzlies, only playing in 39 of a possible 133 games with the team.
Smart's inability to stay on the court took away from any veteran experience the team was looking to gain from him in an on-court setting. Having to depend on that for a playoff run was risky business and the General Manager Zach Kleiman ultimately decided that it wasn't worth the price of admission.
On the contrary, Jake LaRavia's role and expiring contract likely played into him being added to the deal. GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. surpassed him as the wings of the future last season followed by Jaylen Wells this season leading to the Grizzlies declining his fourth-year option.
Jake LaRavia provided quality minutes and depth for the team this season while GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., and Marcus Smart were all out with injuries but the writing was on the wall once they returned from injury. LaRavia was unlikely to return to the Grizzlies as a free agent this offseason, meaning the team had to trade him before losing him for nothing.