Grade the Trade: Grizzlies land $45.8 million big man in costly summer proposal

Laying out the trade

Throughout this season, the Grizzlies have found themselves linked to a number of talents who are considered to be viable candidates to take on the role of primary pivot within their starting lineup.

From established stars to high-upside prospects, the list of names that have been mentioned as possible suitors is quite extensive.

One player who has regularly been floated as an option for Memphis is Atlanta Hawks big Clint Capela, and, despite it being three weeks beyond the deadline, was just recently tabbed as a target the team should still be interested in, with B/R's Greg Swartz going as far as to construct a trade package involving his services that he believes Kleiman and company should be "thinking about."

To Swartz, this transaction is considered a beneficial move for both ball clubs involved, as it addresses Memphis' need for a center while providing the Hawks with financial flexibility, young talents in Ziaire Williams and Brandon Clarke, and first-round draft capital.

"Capela, 29, is a perfect fit as a rebounder and defender, someone who can feed off pick-and-rolls with both Morant and Bane. Memphis is tied for 27th overall in rebounding percentage this year (48.0 percent) while Capela is pulling down 10.9 boards per game, his seventh straight season averaging a double-double.

Atlanta could be financially motivated to move Capela as backup center Onyeka Okongwu's four-year, $62 million extension will kick in next season. Keeping both would mean dedicating $36.3 million to the center position alone.

The Hawks open up a bigger role for Okongwu and add a pair of rotation players in Williams, the 10th overall pick in the 2021 draft, and Clarke, who should return before the end of this season following Achilles surgery.

Atlanta also gets a protected first-rounder from the Grizzlies in 2025, which is important since their own pick is owed to the San Antonio Spurs from the Dejounte Murray trade."

- Greg Swartz

In many ways, this kind of trade proposal provides Atlanta with a tremendous haul for a player they've been "open" to moving on from for some time now.

However, what do the Grizzlies say to such a hypothetical exchange?