{"id":113508,"date":"2024-12-22T12:20:43","date_gmt":"2024-12-22T17:20:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=113508"},"modified":"2024-12-22T12:20:43","modified_gmt":"2024-12-22T17:20:43","slug":"memphis-grizzlies-biggest-need-blockbuster-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/22\/memphis-grizzlies-biggest-need-blockbuster-trade\/","title":{"rendered":"Memphis Grizzlies Biggest Need And Whether They Should Make Blockbuster Trade At Deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Memphis Grizzlies<\/a> appear to have bounced back from a disappointing and injury-plagued 2023-24 season, as they are off to an outstanding start. Looking\u00a0for their fourth playoff appearance in the last five seasons, the Grizzlies are 20-9 and sit in second place in the Western Conference with a +10.2 point differential. The Griz’s 128-112 victory over Atlanta<\/a> was their 12th in the last 14.<\/p>\n

Memphis’s 19 victories are the fourth most in the NBA. The Grizzlies, averaging a league-high 123.1 points, are the only team in the league ranked in the top five in both offensive and defensive rating.<\/p>\n

Memphis<\/a> has accomplished this despite Ja Morant<\/a> and Marcus Smart<\/a> missing at least 10 games a piece. Meanwhile, Vince Williams Jr.<\/a> has seen 45 minutes of action in three appearances, and GG Jackson II<\/a> has yet to see the court. A big reason that the Grizzlies have been able to survive the injuries is their depth.<\/p>\n

Memphis Grizzlies’ Biggest Need And Whether They Should Make Blockbuster Trade At Deadline<\/h2>\n

Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins<\/a> has used 10 starting lineups, and his most used first unit has started only eight times. Fourteen Grizzlies have played in at least 14 games. As a result, the Grizzlies have the top-rated bench that produces a league-best 49.4 points and owns a 4.5-point differential.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been referencing the phrase \u2018bench mob\u2019 \u2013 and that\u2019s not said lightly,\u201d \u00a0Jenkins said about his reserve unit after the Grizzlie<\/a>s lit up Golden\u00a0 State on Friday night. \u201cThose guys have to embrace that mentality. When our group is going to sub in, we talk about short-burst intensity. Whoever comes off that bench must continue to elevate our pace, movement, and defensive activity. Whatever we ask them to do. I keep saying I want more, more, more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks to Morant, Smart, Desmond Bane<\/a>, and Scotty Pippen Jr, Memphis has one of the top backcourt units.<\/a> The Grizzlies also have the league’s top frontcourt units, thanks to Jaren Jackson Jr<\/a>., Brandon Clarke<\/a>, Zach Edey<\/a>, Jay Huff<\/a>, Jake LaRavia<\/a>, and Santi Aldama<\/a>. Jaylen Wells<\/a>, Luke Kennard<\/a>, and Jon Konchar<\/a> provide depth on the wing.<\/p>\n

Biggest Strengths<\/h3>\n

Depth and versatility are the Grizzlies’ two biggest strengths. They are also a fantastic shooting team that excels around the rim and on the glass, particularly on the offensive backboard. They may also be getting healthy soon.<\/p>\n

Morant missed his 12th game of the season against the Hawks<\/a>, though it was only his second this month. He was initially ruled doubtful before ultimately being declared out. He could return on Monday when the Griz host the Los Angeles Clippers.<\/p>\n

Huff<\/a>, who missed the Grizzlies’ last two games with an ankle injury, is day-to-day and may also return on Monday.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Smart left last night’s contest in the second quarter with a right index finger, and there is no word of whether he will miss any time.<\/p>\n

In an update provided by the Grizzlies on Friday<\/a>, Williams continues to progress well, though he will remain out for another three to six weeks. Based on the Grizzlies’ timetable, Williams should return to the court between mid-January and early February.<\/p>\n

Jackson<\/a> is also said to be progressing well from offseason foot surgery. But the 20-year-old likely won’t be available until around the trade deadline.<\/p>\n

While having depth is always an asset for an NBA t<\/a>eam, whether it is to help the team in case of an injury, it could also lead to internal problems with chemistry. Here is the thing: While Pippen, Huff, and Wells have been productive in extended minutes, that trio, along with Jackson, probably are not ready to contribute during the playoffs. Konchar and Kennard are role players. So, I wouldn’t expect chemistry problems.<\/p>\n

Along those lines, Kelly Iko of The Athletic<\/a> doesn’t believe that the Grizzlies must make a blockbuster trade by offering multiple assets.<\/p>\n

Identifying a potential consolidation trade requires separating Jenkins\u2019 most important players from the extraneous ones. In reality, each one has played some role in their 18-9 start, but there\u2019s a clear core. And I\u2019m not referring to just Ja Morant<\/a>, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. The Grizzlies rookie duo, Edey and Jaylen Wells, are just as important in Memphis\u2019 defensive setup \u2014 both now and most certainly in the future as they continue to develop. I would add floor-spacer Santi Aldama, an underrated Sixth Man of the Year candidate averaging 13.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists on 37.3 percent shooting from 3, as a key cog as well.<\/p>\n

As successful as the Grizzlies have been thus far, we\u2019ve yet to see a Morant-Bane-Wells-Jackson-Edey lineup. Jenkins has almost used the surrounding players like an offensive coordinator. When he wants quickness and versatility, he\u2019ll go with Brandon Clarke. Scottie Pippen Jr. and Marcus Smart (the latter of whom lost his starting spot to Wells). For the likes of Jake LaRavia, Luke Kennard and John Konchar, it\u2019s dependent on their two-way impact on a given night.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Grizzlies Weaknesses<\/h3>\n

Turnovers and fouling are the Grizzlies’ biggest weaknesses. The Griz are also a little undersized on the wing, and as a result, they get exposed defensively and on the glass from the two and three.<\/p>\n

In addition, Memphis is only an average 3-point shooting team. The Grizzlies do an outstanding job contesting their opponents’ 3-point shots; they allow the 13th most threes and 28th most attempts a game. Therefore, Iko suggested that the Griz look to make a smaller deal for a 3-and-D wing.<\/p>\n

Honestly, I don\u2019t see the need for a blockbuster move right now. The team is firing on all cylinders and any deal shouldn\u2019t come at the expense of blowing up their core. Something more around the edges, like placing a call to Brooklyn and inquiring about their pair of 3-and-D(ish) forwards in Dorian Finney-Smith<\/a> and Cam Johnson<\/a>, makes more sense than chasing, say, Jimmy Butler<\/a>. Memphis is an average shooting team at best and Finney-Smith, shooting 45 percent on good volume and Johnson, shooting 43.3 percent, makes too much sense. Both are also relatively low-maintenance, plug-and-play types that should fit well around the core, particularly because of their ability to move without the ball<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is well known that Finney-Smith and Johnson are available. Brooklyn already traded Dennis Schroder<\/a> to Golden State last week.<\/p>\n

Memphis is a tax team. However, the Grizzlies are $16 million clear of punitive second tax apron. Plus, they have some trade exceptions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Memphis Grizzlies appear to have bounced back from a disappointing and injury-plagued 2023-24 season, as they are off to an outstanding start. Looking\u00a0for their fourth playoff appearance in the last five seasons, the Grizzlies are 20-9 and sit in second place in the Western Conference with a +10.2 point differential. The Griz’s 128-112 victory […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":113539,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,2,32,62,4721],"tags":[1899,2272,1822,428,1382,49042,49058,3840],"class_list":["post-113508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-featured","category-grizzlies","category-nba","category-trade-rumors","tag-cameron-johnson","tag-dorian-finney-smith","tag-ja-morant","tag-marcus-smart","tag-nba-trade","tag-santi-aldama","tag-scotty-pippen-jr","tag-taylor-jenkins"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113508"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113543,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113508\/revisions\/113543"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}