{"id":175917,"date":"2026-02-05T16:56:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T21:56:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=175917"},"modified":"2026-02-05T16:56:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T21:56:45","slug":"western-conference-team-increases-draft-capital-at-trade-deadline-now-has-3rd-most-future-first-round-selections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/02\/05\/western-conference-team-increases-draft-capital-at-trade-deadline-now-has-3rd-most-future-first-round-selections\/","title":{"rendered":"Western Conference Team Increases Draft Capital At Trade Deadline, Now Has 3rd Most Future First Round Selections"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Memphis Grizzlies<\/a> have decided to reset. The Grizzlies<\/a> added three draft picks in the trade for Jaren Jackson Jr<\/a>. Did they get enough for one of the top defensive players in the NBA?<\/a><\/p>\n

Western Conference Team Increases Draft Capital At Trade Deadline, Now Has 3rd Most Future First Round Selections<\/h2>\n

Memphis, which has the 13th most wins this decade, sent Jackson Jr.<\/a>, along with three other veterans, to Utah for Walter Clayton Jr.<\/a>, Kyle Anderson<\/a>, Georges Niang,<\/a> and Taylor Hendricks<\/a>. The Grizzlies also added three draft picks, but none this year. They did get two 2027 draft picks: the 2027 Los Angeles Lakers (top-4 protected) and the most favorable of Cleveland<\/a>\/\u00a0Minnesota<\/a>\/ Utah<\/a>. They also received Phoenix’s 2031 unprotected selection.<\/p>\n

While the trade of Jackson Jr. was a surprise, it is likely a good decision for the Grizzlies to start the rebuild now rather than later. It gives first-year coach Tuomas Iisalo time to adjust his coaching philosophy to the Grizzlies’ roster.<\/p>\n

Memphis<\/a> sits in 11th place in the Western Conference at 20-29 and is just two-and-one-half games behind Portland for the final play-in spot. The Grizzlies picked up their second straight win last night with a 129-125 victory over Portland to move within two games of the 10th-place Trail Blazers.<\/p>\n

High Expectations Not Reached<\/h4>\n

The Grizzlies entered the season with the expectations of competing for a top-6 spot in the Western Conference after winning 48 games last season. The Grizzlies had reached the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, though they only made it out of the first round once.<\/p>\n

However, injuries have destroyed the Grizzlies continuity. The Grizzlies just<\/a> got Ty Jerome<\/a> back, though Scotty Pippen Jr.<\/a> still hasn’t made his season debut. Ja Morant<\/a>, who has only played 20 games this year, is out until at least the NBA’s all-star break<\/a> due to an elbow injury. Iisalo’s pace-and-space offensive system hasn\u2019t fully taken hold. In addition, their bench scoring has been inconsistent, and their defensive communication has suffered with the second unit.<\/p>\n

Speaking of Morant, Memphis couldn’t find a trade partner despite lowering its asking price. Since the Grizzlies plan to revisit trade talks this offseason, it will be interesting to see whether Morant plays again this year.\u00a0 He is under contract through 2027-28.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>You\u2019re committing to several years, and if it doesn\u2019t work, you\u2019re probably carrying that contract until it\u2019s an expiring at least<\/em>,\u201d one league source told Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal about Morant’s trade market. \u201c<\/span>Most teams would want to be compensated just to take that deal on, whether they believe in Morant or not.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a9 Ed Szczepanski<\/a>, Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Did The Grizzlies Get Enough For Triple J<\/h3>\n

Clayton Jr. is a scoring combo guard who has had his ups and downs as a rookie. The 22-year-old averages 6.8 points and 3.2 assists with shooting splits of 39.8\/30.8\/93.5.\u00a0 He has scored in double-figures 11 times, including one 20-point effort.<\/p>\n

Clayton Jr should take over Vince Williams Jr’s<\/a> role as the Griz’s fourth guard. He figures to be behind Jerome, Cedric Coward<\/a>, and Cam Spencer,<\/a> along with perhaps Morant.<\/p>\n

Hendricks is also just 22, though he is already in his third year. Hendricks has dealt with injuries and on-court struggles. He averages 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 15 minutes this season over 33 games.<\/p>\n

However, Hendricks still has tremendous upside due to his size, mobility, and shooting ability. Hendricks is at his best in pick-n-pop actions — he averages 1.1 threes at a 36% clip for his career, and transition. He is also a strong weak-side shot blocker and can play all three frontcourt positions.<\/p>\n

Anderson is a quality reserve forward who likely won’t have much of a role with the Grizzlies, given they’re likely to give their youngsters plenty of playing time in the future. He is under contract for $9.6 million next season.<\/p>\n

Niang hasn’t played all season as he is dealing with a foot injury. He is on an expiring contract and is a buyout candidate.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the trade created the largest-ever trade exception for the Grizzlies, valued at $28.8 million, per ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania.<\/a><\/p>\n

The main prize, of course, is the draft picks. Phoenix’s 2031 unprotected is the most valuable at this point. The Lakers are expected to be good next year. The Cavaliers and the Timberwolves should be good as well. While the Jazz are projected to be the worst of the three, they should at least be able to compete for a playoff spot.<\/p>\n

Trade Grade: B-<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Draft Capital<\/h3>\n

Memphis now projects to have 14 future first-round picks and at least six second-rounders from 2026-2035. The 14 first-rounders are the third most in the league behind Brooklyn and Oklahoma City. They entered the trade deadline with the fifth most first-rounders.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Grizzlies own two first-rounders in the upcoming June draft. The Grizzlies project to keep their own pick this year, which will likely be a lottery selection. They will also receive Orlando’s or Phoenix’s, which, as it stands right now, will be Orlando’s selection.<\/p>\n

Memphis could have three first-rounders in 2027, including its own. The Lakers (top-4 protected) will likely convey, and they will receive the most favorable of Utah\/Minnesota\/ Cleveland. The Grizzlies’ selection is the only pick projected to be in the lottery.<\/p>\n

Memphis has one first-round pick in 2028 and 2029. Then, in 2030 and 2031, the Grizzlies own two first-rounders.<\/p>\n

In 2030, besides their own first-round selection, the Grizzlies have an unprotected pick from Orlando. Then in 2031, the Grizzlies have their selection as Phoenix\u2019s unprotected choice. From 2032 through 2035, the Grizzlies own their own selections.<\/p>\n

Nine of Memphis\u2019s 12 first-rounders between 2026 and 2032 are tradeable.<\/p>\n

In a late deadline deal, the Grizzlies acquired veteran guard Eric Gordon from Philadelphia along with the right to swap second-round picks in 2032.\u00a0 The Griz, who sent the draft rights to 2020 second round selection Justinian Jessup<\/a>to the 76ers, will release Niang to make room for Gordon.<\/p>\n

“The Memphis Grizzlies plan to waive Georges Niang to make room for Eric Gordon from the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told <\/span>DALHoopsJournal,” Afseth tweeted<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Memphis Grizzlies have decided to reset. The Grizzlies added three draft picks in the trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. Did they get enough for one of the top defensive players in the NBA? Western Conference Team Increases Draft Capital At Trade Deadline, Now Has 3rd Most Future First Round Selections Memphis, which has the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":176240,"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],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-175917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-featured","category-grizzlies","category-nba"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175917","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=175917"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175917\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":176441,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175917\/revisions\/176441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175917"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175917"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}