Now that the season is officially over for Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers, teams are lining up in hopes of luring away the 5x All-Star. The latest team on the list is the Memphis Grizzlies, who have emerged as a dark-horse contender to pair Mitchell with their franchise face, Ja Morant.
“Those same sources have confirmed the reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Miami Heat are interested in acquiring Mitchell if he becomes available,” wrote Cavaliers beat writer Evan Dammarell. “But a separate source did share that the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies could also be teams worth monitoring in a possible Mitchell sweepstakes.”
Mitchell, 27, has been one of the league’s hottest trade chips for years now and this summer may finally be the one where he gets dealt. After another underwhelming season for the Cavaliers, reports claim that the franchise will choose between Mitchell and Darius Garland this summer, effectively re-tooling with whatever they get in return.
With averages of 26.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game on 46.2% shooting, Donovan Mitchell is the type of star that most teams would pay a lot for and it might be the best way for the Cavaliers to upgrade their position in the East. After all, they were at their best this season with just one of Mitchell or Garland on the floor.
And while the Grizzlies will just be one of several teams chasing Mitchell, they have the assets and the means to make a strong offer in the sweepstakes and it could be enough to shake up the Western Conference hierarchy in a major way. The only question for the Grizzlies would be if Morant could stay out of trouble long enough to survive a long playoff run.
The Memphis Grizzlies Are Preparing A Massive Comeback
In the wake of Ja Morant’s suspension, the Grizzlies entered the 2023-24 campaign in a state of uncertainty about the path ahead. And while Ja’s return sparked a mini-run for his team, an injury later in the season sent him back to the bench and the Grizzlies have been almost completely irrelevant ever since.
As the 13th seed in the West, the Grizzlies were not even close to seeing the post-season, and many fans have forgotten just how lethal the Grizzlies were at their peak. But with Ja, Steven Adams, and Brandon Clarke set to return in full force next season, there is reason to believe they will be a major threat for years to come.
While the options are somewhat limited for the Grizzlies, they have enough to make a reasonable offer for any high-profile player, including Mitchell. Together, a backcourt of Ja and Donovan Mitchell might rank as the best in the league and the Grizzlies would be in a position to contend with the best of the best in the West, including the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Mavericks, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Of course, the Grizzlies will only go as far as Ja takes them. Whether Mitchell is there or not, the Grizzlies will never reach their potential unless No. 12 can step up as a leader. If his transgressions are truly a thing of the past, then it bodes well for the future of the Grizzlies and their chances to make a deep run in the near future.
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