The Golden State Warriors are not expected to make any major moves ahead of the NBA trade deadline next week but are being consistently linked to stars around the league. It’s unlikely the Warriors stand pat as a 24-23 franchise in danger of missing the Playoffs. They should make at least a minor move that consolidates the excessive rotational options on the roster for a bonafide starter.
The Memphis Grizzlies are looking for win-now moves in the market themselves, sitting as the No. 3 seed in the West with a 32-16 record. While they hope Jimmy Butler decides to join their franchise, it seems marginal moves to bring Playoff-caliber depth onto the roster might be the best way forward.
The Warriors could call the Grizzlies and land a major defensive upgrade for their starting five.
Trade Details
Golden State Warriors Receive: Marcus Smart ($20.2 million), John Konchar ($6.1 million)
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Gary Payton II ($9.1 million), Kyle Anderson ($8.7 million), Buddy Hield ($8.7 million), 2025 Second-Round Pick (BOS), 2025 Second-Round Pick (MIA), 2030 Second-Round Pick (GSW)
The Grizzlies can simplify their roster by moving on from Smart, who’s still an elite guard defender in the NBA. This move would allow greater space for Desmond Bane and Jaylen Wells, while the Warriors fix their backcourt uncertainty by landing a high-level defender who would be a great complement to Stephen Curry.
The Warriors Need A Boost
The Warriors have been crashing down the standings after getting their season off to a 12-3 start. The team doesn’t have enough firepower on either end of the court to hang with the best teams in the NBA anymore. While major offensive additions aren’t needed immediately with the impending return of Jonathan Kuminga, the Warriors could do with a standout POA defender who can reduce the load on both Curry and Draymond Green,
Marcus Smart is averaging 9.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists this season. The former Defensive Player of the Year looks out of place offensively in Memphis, with his defense not creating a big enough impact due to the team’s overall style. Smart would cover up for a major POA defense hole on the Warriors, making him more valuable to this set-up.
John Konchar is averaging 2.8 points and 4.0 rebounds, providing solid two-way play as a swingman.
The Warriors are a competent team defense unit already, so adding Smart would push them toward a top-ranking defense. Smart and Green on the same floor together is going to frustrate a lot of opponents and even give more utility to one-dimensional centers like Kevon Looney who can focus on rim protection given the high-level perimeter defenders they can rely on.
The Grizzlies Diversify Their Assets
The saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but the Grizzlies could genuinely improve by removing Marcus Smart. While there might be a defensive fall-off, it allows them to make their lineups more dynamic by featuring Desmond Bane in a prominent role again alongside highly-valued rookie Jaylen Wells. Given the Grizzlies struggle with depth due to injury concerns across the roster, this deal also gives them insurance.
Gary Payton II can replicate Smart’s defensive impact to some extent, averaging 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds this season. Outside Payton, Kyle Anderson can return to the Grizzlies and be a competent backup option for the frontcourt, averaging 5.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in Golden State. Finally, Buddy Hield can succeed as a shooter next to Ja Morant, averaging 11.7 points this season.
These aren’t slam-dunk upgrades for the Grizzlies but help move the franchise into a secure position for the Playoffs. These options will make them harder to beat given their versatility, and almost all those players can be more impactful on offense than Smart has been this season.
What Grade Should This Trade Be?
Golden State Warriors: B
Memphis Grizzlies: B+
Even though the theoretical fit of Marcus Smart on the Warriors seems perfect, it might force the franchise to fall deeper into an offensive black hole on their roster. Stephen Curry’s offensive production has dipped majorly, and the team might be better off targeting a high-volume scorer instead of another defender on a roster that has built a strong defensive core already.
This is a good deal for the Warriors as Smart is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. However, these assets might work better focused on another offensive complement to Curry given how all offensive responsibilities keep falling on his shoulders.
The Grizzlies get off an extra year on Smart’s contract for a cast of veteran rotational players they can easily integrate into their roster which often finds itself heavily short-handed. The players won’t be major contributors, but they could all fill in the gaps on the roster and help the Grizzlies through a Playoff run.
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