The Memphis Grizzlies have some serious work to do to shore up their severely lacking center position ahead of next year's campaign, and a recent trade idea by Bleacher Report would prioritize finding a solution at the starting pivot with an experienced commodity.
Despite being led by three sub-26-year-olds in Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and superstar Ja Morant and having just wrapped up with the seventh-worst record in the entire association at 27-55 a, heading into 2024-25 Taylor Jenkins' club is expected to once again be in win-now mode.
Because of this, the front office may want to try and add on talents who have gone through the trenches of a deep postseason run and provide some valuable wisdom to this rather inexperienced squad, and, with this in mind, writer Grant Hughes suggests targeting Warriors center Kevon Looney could be an ideal course of action.
Memphis Grizzlies urged to trade for Warriors center Kevon Looney
Citing his familiarity with winning ways and affinity for cleaning the glass, Hughes believes that adding Looney to a frontcourt rotation spearheaded by Jaren Jackson Jr. could be quite beneficial, even if it means parting with former lottery selection, Ziaire Williams.
"The real benefit would come on the boards, where Jackson Jr. isn't stout enough to keep opposing 5s off the glass. Even in a down year, Looney was stellar in that area, ranking in the 87th percentile among bigs in offensive rebound rate and the 81st in defensive rebounding rate.Grant Hughes
Former Grizzly Steven Adams brought more sheer bulk than Looney can, but the Warriors' veteran is a smart defender who can be a handoff hub at the elbows and hold up physically against most enemy bigs. His experience, maturity and "right place, right time" defensive positioning would give the Grizzlies' defense some serious interior stability."
Kevon ❌
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 11, 2023
& Curry in the paint
📺 @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/hezyT8fwP8
Though by no means an outright difference-maker in the stats or eye-test department, Looney provides the often overlooked attributes that, historically, have aided in winning ways for a team.
Measuring in at 6-foot-9, 222 pounds, the 28-year-old is a big, burley presence down in the interior of the floor who sports underrated defensive chops (109 career defensive rating) and puts forth impressive rebounding efforts on a regular basis.
On top of all this, following such an injury-plagued season, the Grizzlies would welcome Looney's ironman abilities, as he's missed just eight games over the last three seasons.
Of course, Hughes' proposal would see Williams heading outbound which, to some, could be seen as a let down considering not too long ago the former 10 overall pick was viewed as "a future-breakout darling."
However, considering the Grizzlies recently have witnessed the emergence of guys playing a similar position like GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr., moving on from the 22-year-old becomes a much easier decision to make.
Should Zach Kleiman and company be hell-bent on adding on a veteran big man with ample experience playing through the NBA Playoffs, nabbing the three-time champion could be an intruiging move to make.