While many fans are focused on big-name trades, the moves made between the margins are often pivotal. It remains to be seen what happens next, but before today's deadline, the Memphis Grizzlies acquired Eric Gordon from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a 2032 second-round pick swap.
The 76ers needed to create flexibility in order to keep Dominick Barlow in Philly. From the Grizzlies' perspective, they wanted to get a future swap and get another veteran. In response, the Grizzlies also waived Georges Niang, who was acquired in the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade. It remains to be seen what Gordon's role is in Memphis and how long he even sticks around.
Eric Gordon to Memphis happened years too late
To add more comedic relief to this trade, the Grizzlies were interested in Eric Gordon all the way back in the 2016 offseason. Coming off a 2015-16 season that saw the Grizzlies get swept in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs, the team was hoping to add Eric Gordon to the fold. Ultimately, Gordon signed with the Houston Rockets on a four-year, $53 million contract, thus ending the Gordon-to-Memphis dream.
Memphis, meanwhile, only has an $8+ million chunk of cap space left but I'm told they're trying to make sufficient room to land Eric Gordon
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2016
Throughout his career, Gordon remained a reliable shooter despite injuries putting a cap on his ceiling. There is no doubt that Gordon would've been an impactful signing for the Grizzlies back in 2016. To this day, it still remains impressive how long he has been productive in the NBA, given he was a lottery pick in 2008.
Unfortunately now though, Eric Gordon, at age 37, is well past his best days as a player. He only appeared in six games for the 76ers this year and is not much more than an end-of-the-bench option. His veteran presence could still benefit a Grizzlies team full of young talent.
On the flipside, the Grizzlies could easily buy him out and free up a roster spot. A good potential use of an extra roster spot would be to convert Olivier-Maxence Prosper to a standard contract and find another possible two-way contract success story. Regardless, the Grizzlies made a very low-risk move, and the 2032 second-round swap could potentially be useful years down the line.
Simply put, the Grizzlies made a deadline day trade, but not the one that most fans and media expected. It remains to be seen what happens with Gordon next, as he could realistically occupy the Grizzlies' last roster spot or be a buyout candidate in the coming days. For now, the Grizzlies will give their young players chances and have their sights on a new rebuild.