Grizzlies 'remain engaged' in trade talks for recent lottery pick: Report

During this final month of trade season, the Memphis Grizzlies have proven to be quite an active bunch.

From their decision to send veteran Steven Adams to the Houston Rockets to their latest trade that shipped Xavier Tillman out to the Boston Celtics, GM Zach Kleiman has made it rather apparent that this front office is willing to make moves in an attempt to better their odds of success come next season and beyond.

Now, with mere hours to go till Thursday's 3 PM (EST) cutoff, rumblings suggest that the Grizzlies are looking to make at least one more shakeup to their current arsenal as Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported in the early hours of February 8 that they are actively "engaged" in trade talks to acquire Killian Hayes from the Detroit Pistons.

Grizzlies 'engaged' in trade talks to acquire Killian Hayes from Pistons

"The Grizzlies remain engaged with the Pistons on a potential Killian Hayes trade with the sticking point currently being draft pick compensation, league sources told HoopsHype."

- Michael Scotto

A rumor that has picked up steam over the last several days, Hayes, the seventh overall selection from the 2020 NBA Draft, finds himself struggling to come across playing time within a crowded Pistons backcourt that consists of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and, following the trade with the Knicks, Quentin Grimes.

Though on the surface it may be a bit odd to see the tanking Grizzlies looking to add on anyone of note at this year's deadline, considering the guard is attached to an expiring contract, perhaps a move for the ex-lottery pick could be more geared toward salary shedding than anything else, as they could, in theory, swap him out for the remaining year and a half of Ziaire Williams' deal.

Throughout his four seasons in the association, Hayes boasts career averages of 8.1 points, 5.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game.