{"id":92970,"date":"2024-08-28T11:39:16","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T15:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=92970"},"modified":"2024-08-28T11:39:16","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T15:39:16","slug":"this-grizzlies-trade-sees-them-land-high-scoring-wing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/28\/this-grizzlies-trade-sees-them-land-high-scoring-wing\/","title":{"rendered":"This Grizzlies Trade Sees Them Land High-Scoring Wing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Memphis Grizzlies faced significant challenges during the 2023-24 season due to injuries and off-court issues. Despite these setbacks, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/banede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Desmond Bane<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jacksja02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaren Jackson Jr.<\/a> continued their development. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jacksgg01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GG Jackson II<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willivi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vince Williams Jr.<\/a> emerged as bright spots in an otherwise forgettable season. Despite the positive development of these rookies, the Grizzlies still have a need for a starting-caliber forward. As the Grizzlies <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/25\/memphis-grizzlies-off-season-a-review-to-date\/\" target=\"_self\">look ahead<\/a> to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/22\/espn-predicts-nba-western-conference-standings-for-2024-25\/\" target=\"_self\">2024-25<\/a> season, addressing critical roster gaps should remain a priority. This potential trade for<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kuzmaky01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Kyle Kuzma<\/a> could be transformative for the Grizzlies.<\/p>\n<h2>This Grizzlies Trade Sees Them Land High-Scoring Wing<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">2024-25 Memphis Grizzlies projected 10 man depth chart:<\/p>\n<p>PG: Morant, Smart<br \/>SG: Bane, Kennard<br \/>SF: Williams Jr., Jackson II<br \/>PF: Jackson Jr., Aldama<br \/>C: Edey, Clarke<\/p>\n<p>Where will they finish? \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc3b <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/I1hvVkriVF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/I1hvVkriVF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; GrizzMuse (@GrizzlyMuse) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GrizzlyMuse\/status\/1819112771533132281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>The Trade details<\/h3>\n<p>The <strong>Grizzlies<\/strong> receive: <strong>Kyle<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Kuzma<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Wizards<\/strong> receive:\u00a0<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smartma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marcus Smart<\/a><strong>,<\/strong> <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/laravja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jak<\/a><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/laravja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">e<\/a><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/laravja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> LaRavia<\/a>,<strong> a 2025 first-round pick,\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>a top-three protected 2027 first-round pick\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Why the Grizzlies Do This Deal?<\/h3>\n<p>Kuzma\u2019s length and versatility make him an excellent fit for the Grizzlies&#8217; defensive style. His ability to guard multiple positions adds depth and flexibility to the team. Kuzma\u2019s scoring capability across all three levels\u2014inside, mid-range, and beyond the arc\u2014addresses a critical need for Memphis. The team struggled with scoring consistency, particularly from forwards, and Kuzma\u2019s presence would help alleviate this issue. Kuzma <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/1628398\/shooting\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">averaged<\/a> a career-high 22.2 points on a career-high field goal percentage of 46.3%.<\/p>\n<p>Kuzma\u2019s shooting also enhances spacing on the floor, which is crucial for<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/moranja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Ja Morant\u2019s<\/a> success. Effective spacing opens driving lanes for Morant, improving Memphis&#8217; offensive efficiency. With Kuzma creating more room to operate, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/27\/grizzlies-fans-should-be-extremely-hopeful-for-the-season-after-new-ja-morant-and-zach-edeyintel\/\" target=\"_self\">Morant<\/a> would have better opportunities to drive and score, enhancing the overall offensive dynamic of the team.<\/p>\n<h3>Why Marcus Smart Doesn\u2019t Fit<\/h3>\n<p>Marcus Smart&#8217;s fit with the Grizzlies poses several challenges. Smart played only 20 games last season due to injuries, and his <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/15358\/marcus-smart#:~:text=Marcus%20Smart%20signed%20a%204,dead%20cap%20value%20of%20%2419%2C960%2C285.\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$19.96 million<\/a> contract ($20.2 million cap hit) as a backup point guard or starting shooting guard does not align with Memphis\u2019 current needs. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/20\/these-2-western-conference-teams-deserve-more-respect\/\" target=\"_self\">Grizzlies<\/a> require a starting-caliber forward who can contribute consistently, and Smart\u2019s role as a possible backup guard does not quite fulfill this requirement.<\/p>\n<p>While Smart could potentially play in three-guard lineups alongside Ja and Bane, this approach is <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/14\/why-grizzlies-would-be-wise-trade-marcus-smart\/\" target=\"_self\">less effective<\/a> in the Western Conference, where size and versatility are increasingly valued. Smart\u2019s leadership and championship experience are net positives though. Still, the Grizzlies need to prioritize addressing specific roster gaps. Kuzma offers an immediate impact with his scoring ability and potential fit within the Grizzlies\u2019 defensive scheme, making him a more suitable addition.<\/p>\n<h3>Why the Wizards Do This Deal?<\/h3>\n<p>From the Wizards\u2019 perspective, this trade aligns with their rebuilding strategy. After a disappointing 15-win season, the team should be focused on accumulating future assets. Acquiring multiple first-round picks would support their long-term goals. These picks could turn out to be more valuable if Ja misses time. He has a <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nba\/ja-morant-player-injuries\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">history<\/a> of missing games due to injuries or off-court issues. He has appeared in more than 65 games just once, in his rookie year.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Smart\u2019s leadership and experience could positively influence Washington\u2019s young players, like <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/poolejo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jordan Poole<\/a> while helping to improve the team culture.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, if Smart is traded again, he could yield additional valuable assets due to his defensive prowess and experience. This potential for further returns adds to the attractiveness of the trade for the Wizards.<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word<\/h3>\n<p>In summary, a trade for Kuzma makes strategic sense for the Grizzlies. His ability to provide versatile scoring and fit into Memphis\u2019 defensive style addresses key needs on the roster. Smart\u2019s limited fit and high contract make him a less ideal fit for the Grizzlies&#8217; current situation. While Smart offers valuable leadership, Kuzma\u2019s immediate impact and alignment with Memphis&#8217; needs make him the better choice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Memphis Grizzlies faced significant challenges during the 2023-24 season due to injuries and off-court issues. Despite these setbacks, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. continued their development. GG Jackson II and Vince Williams Jr. emerged as bright spots in an otherwise forgettable season. Despite the positive development of these rookies, the Grizzlies still have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":93022,"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":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,32,18],"tags":[4945,49402,3127,4933,1822,49497,1948,1909,1128,428,4501,1382,563,46644],"class_list":["post-92970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-grizzlies","category-wizards","tag-2023-2024-season","tag-2024-2025-season","tag-desmond-bane","tag-gg-jackson","tag-ja-morant","tag-jake-laravia","tag-jaren-jackson-jr","tag-jordan-poole","tag-kyle-kuzma","tag-marcus-smart","tag-nba-picks","tag-nba-trade","tag-nba-western-conference","tag-vince-williams"],"modified_by":"Eamon Cassels, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92970","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\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92970"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92970\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}