The Memphis Grizzlies made some drastic changes to their roster this summer. By trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic, the Grizzlies effectively marked the end of an era.
The start of a rebuild around the core of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. was noted after Memphis offered the latter a sizable contract extension. Their investment in the former DPOY indicates that they do intend to be competitive in the future, but considering their current roster, this could be some way down the road.
The Grizzlies feature two incredibly talented young players who are primed to compete now. To make the most of their youth, we examine a trade proposal by Sports Illustrated’s Ethen Hutton that would allow Memphis to form a new “big three”.
Proposed Trade Details
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Paul George, 2030 second-round pick
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, Cedric Coward, 2028 first-round pick
Acquiring Paul George could be huge for Memphis, albeit the risks that come with adding the nine-time All-Star to their roster are also worth noting. With both teams seeing some changes to their lineups with this trade, we explore its impact in greater detail.
The 76ers Successfully Offload George
Hutton’s trade proposal is effectively an attempt on the Philadelphia 76ers‘ behalf to offload Paul George’s massive contract. With a $51.6 million cap hit next season and three years left on his contract, George might be one of the most difficult assets to move in the NBA.
However, in this scenario, after successfully offloading the 35-year-old, the 76ers can look towards the future and proceed with retooling their roster.
Philadelphia’s prospects remain tied to Joel Embiid. Although the superstar big man appears to be in tremendous shape heading into the new season, his injury history and retirement speculation raise doubt about the team’s outlook.
In this regard, the 76ers may have a difficult decision to make regarding their direction. Should they opt for the rebuild path, this trade could be viewed quite favorably.
The arrival of players such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Clarke, and John Konchar only serves to fill out Philadelphia’s current roster. Meanwhile, Cedric Coward and the 2028 first-round pick could offer greater long-term value.
Coward presents a lot of upside as a backcourt addition. Although he missed out on a large part of Memphis’ Summer League run due to injury, the 22-year-old is expected to play a more significant role as he gears up for training camp.
Philadelphia already boasts a lot of depth in the backcourt, especially with players such as Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, VJ Edgecombe, and potentially Quentin Grimes. Should the 76ers decide to move on from Grimes, which seems unlikely, they could invest in developing Coward alongside Edgecombe in the second unit.
From the veterans, Caldwell-Pope and Clarke could play a more significant role. The former is positioned as a solid 3-and-D veteran, while the latter is an athletic big man with rim-running and rebounding upside.
Last season, Caldwell-Pope recorded an average of 8.7 points and 2.2 rebounds on 43.9% shooting from the field and 34.2% from three. Meanwhile, Clarke was a more noteworthy role player, as he averaged 8.3 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 62.1% from the field.
Konchar appears to be the least convincing asset in this package. Although he has upside as a 3-and-D player, he hasn’t received much playing time in the Grizzlies’ rotation, as he averaged 2.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game on 45.1% shooting from the field and 37.1% from three.
The three veterans in this proposal still have two years left on their deals. Although this could create problems in clearing cap space for an immediate rebuild, Philadelphia could look to cut a few players during training camp to make space on the roster to accommodate them.
Would this trade make the 76ers a competitive unit in the current context? Probably not. But it would give them the assets required to build a more cohesive unit for the future.
The Grizzlies Form A New “Big Three”
With the departure of Desmond Bane, the Grizzlies need a reliable wing to fill out their starting lineup. In this regard, George appears to be the appropriate replacement.
Taking on Paul George’s contract would require the Grizzlies to take a major risk. Hence, to sweeten the deal, the 76ers would have to add some draft compensation to make up for it.
The addition of a future second-rounder could be viewed favorably by the organization, but the potential for George to be a solid addition could also be something to be optimistic about.
Last season, George struggled to find form. In 41 games with the team, the nine-time All-Star seemed out of place, as he averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game on 43.0% shooting overall and 35.8% from beyond the arc.
In his prime, he was one of the premier two-way players in the league. Although he has managed to retain some of his athleticism, it is evident that due to his injuries, he has struggled to be as productive as he used to be.
However, joining Memphis could be an opportunity for the 35-year-old to turn things around.
As constructed, the Grizzlies aren’t poised to be a contender in the West. With reduced pressure, George could gradually start building himself back up.
George’s drop-off in shot attempts could be attributed to several factors, but it has resulted in reduced scoring output. In a situation where he would have a lot more latitude to establish himself on offense, especially as a secondary option next to Morant, the forward could note an uptick in offensive production.
Should he succeed in doing so, the Grizzlies stand a chance to see an overall improvement in output, yielding more success in the regular season.
Neither Team Really Benefits From This Trade
Although it is worth noting that there are potential benefits involved for both teams, it is clear that the risks associated with this deal are also worth considering.
For Philadelphia, taking on players who may not be a part of the regular rotation may not be favorable, primarily as it hinders the growth of their young core. Even if they decide against a rebuild, it is still counterproductive, as these additions don’t elevate their roster strength.
For the Grizzlies, taking on a massive contract like George’s goes against their offseason approach. By trading Bane, Memphis shed a significant amount of cap space to help with retooling. Acquiring the nine-time All-Star would undo all this work and set them back.
When also factoring in George’s current status after undergoing surgery, additional concerns arise regarding his availability next season. Overall, this trade may not truly benefit either team involved.
