Trade proposal sends $37 million stretch big to Grizzlies

It's no secret that the Memphis Grizzlies have struggled mightily throughout this first month of the 2023-23 campaign, as they boast a putrid record of 3-13, the second-worst mark in the Western Conference to this point.

Producing at a polar opposite rate to the one that clinched them the last two Southwest Division crowns, with every passing day the ball club is being urged to make some sort of shakeup by both fans and pundits alike in an effort to get themselves back on the right track and better their odds of competing for playoffs once superstar Ja Morant makes his way back from his 25-game suspension.

To this point, GM Zach Kleiman has already found himself attacking the free agency market to help address some of their key rotational needs what with the signing of veteran Bismack Biyombo but the more anticipated hope amongst the franchise's faithful followers seems to be that they'll look to the trade route at some point to bring on an exciting outsourced talent.

Perhaps to their delight, recently, writer Jared Koch of FanNation's Inside the Jazz went about and constructed a rather intriguing proposal that would help improve both Memphis' frontcourt depth as well as their floor spacing abilities.

Memphis Grizzlies land Kelly Olynyk in recent trade proposal

Citing the club's need for immediate help in the production department, Koch suggests that pursuing Kelly Olynyk and his expiring $37 million deal could prove to be a low-risk, high-reward move worth making.

"Through 17 games of the 2023-24 season, he’s averaged 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on some positive shooting splits (57.0/41.9/87.9). That combination of shooting and size is exactly what Memphis could utilize in this time of need.

As it stands, the Grizzlies are ranked dead last in the NBA for field goal (42.2%) and three-point percentage (32.7). Combine this with the loss of a presence like Adams in the paint, and the addition of a player like Olynyk could be worthwhile."

- Jared Koch on Kelly Olynyk

On top of his offensive prowess (has averaged 11.7 points on 48.7 percent shooting from the floor and 36.1 percent shooting from distance since 2020-21), Olynyk boasts stellar size with his 6-foot-11, 240-pound build, thus allowing him to slot into either the four or five spot and add some much-needed defensive intangibles (career defensive rating of 108) into the mix.

Though trading away a fan favorite in Brandon Clarke would be incredibly tough, considering he's slated to be out for most of, if not all of this season, coupled with the fears that he realistically may never get back to his pre-Achilles tear form, a move such as this may be a way for the Grizzlies to help improve their successes both in the now as well as for the future, as it would shed "around $12 million in cap room this offseason" according to Koch.