Popular Grizzlies star trade target 'very likely to be on the move'

At 4-13, it's quite evident that the Memphis Grizzlies have dug themselves into an incredibly deep hole to kick off their 2023-24 campaign. That said, not all hope is lost on this squad, as even those on the team are predicting brighter days are ahead.

How they manage to get back on track after such a lowly start is truly anyone's guess at this point in time, but many have voiced their belief that pursuing outsourced talents in an effort to bolster coach Taylor Jenkins' roster could be a high-impact course of action worth taking.

Over the past few months, there have been a slew of players tabbed as ideal targets worth pursuing, with names ranging from seasoned role players to established stars. Recently, a player who falls into the latter category has been circulating rapidly within the news cycle, as The Athletic's Sam Amick reported on December 1 that Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan is 'very likely' to be traded this season.

Proposed Grizzlies trade target DeMar DeRozan 'very likely' to be traded

Dating back to last season, the Grizzlies have been viewed as a quality fit for DeRozan's services, with Will Gottlieb of CHGO Sports going as far as to note in a mid-April piece that the club could "use a stabilizing veteran force who can be relied on to score in the half court" such as him.

Now in his 15 year in the association, the six-time All-Star and recent MVP candidate once again finds himself putting forth an impressive season. Despite Chicago's lackluster success, DeRozan is posting impressive per-game averages of 21.3 points, 4.6 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and just shy of a block while shooting 45.0 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from deep.

Being the Grizzlies still have yet to find an answer to their starting wing position, it should come as no wonder as to why the 34-year-old has oft been mentioned as a possible trade option and, with Ja Morant slated to return from his 25-game suspension mid-way through this month, perhaps it may be a wise decision for GM Zach Kleiman to step into action and boost the team's firepower in preparation for his arrival.

Though Amik would report that "the Heat and Knicks are known to be preferable" landing spots for DeRozan, considering they could certainly use an upgrade at the small forward position, their need for more reinforcements as they look to climb themselves out from the bottom of the Western Conference standings, and the fact that they have a plethora of assets that could be useful in an outbound trade package, Memphis should be highly interested in a possible pursuit of the Bulls stud.

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