The NBA trade market has gotten busy since the Memphis Grizzlies began the trend after trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic last Sunday. Before making that trade, the Grizzlies' starting center, Zach Edey, had surgery to repair an ankle sprain and will likely miss the start of next season.
While the team has additional needs that were the priority before his injury, addressing the center position was pushed to the top of the list as well. The Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks just made a deal that opened the door for the Grizzlies to pursue a center while closing the door on another.
Kristaps Porzingis was traded from the Celtics to the Hawks in a three-team deal that will almost certainly spell the end of upcoming free agent Clint Capela's time with Atlanta. Simultaneously, it opened the door for the Celtics' upcoming free agent center Luke Kornet to likely return to the team that just traded its starting center.
The Grizzlies should consider all options with their mid-level exception in free agency, but center should be one of their priorities with the uncertainty of Edey's injury timeline, plus his insertion back into the lineup when he returns.
Clint Capela needs a new home and Memphis has the opening
Capela was a name that was brought up in trade conversations for the Grizzlies when they needed a center entering last offseason. Obviously, they chose to fill that need with the drafting of Zach Edey to good results in his rookie season.
However, this team has just seen this exact scenario play out this past season to bad results with promising young players getting hurt and not returning to form on a team looking to contend. Those players were GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr., who were expected to play a big part in the Grizzlies' rotation this season, but we're collecting DNPs by the end of the season.
To avoid making the same mistake, the Grizzlies must address their center opening with another veteran who has playoff experience in Clint Capela. The 11-year vet can provide the rebounding and rim protection the team needs in the absence of Edey.
He can also remain as the starting center when Edey returns to help ease him back into the rotation, or become insurance in case Edey has a similar second season to GG Jackson. The Grizzlies just saw this scene play out in real time and cost them a chance of making a playoff run, and they have time to address it in advance this time around.