The summer hasn’t been kind to the Memphis Grizzlies. After an early exit from the playoffs following a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Grizzlies were expected to make roster changes to prepare for the upcoming season.
In a surprising turn of events, Memphis instead made an intriguing decision to undergo a partial roster overhaul. By trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic, the Grizzlies effectively announced their intention to go forward with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. as their core.
Although this makes for a formidable duo, the trade itself wasn’t in Memphis’ best interests, considering the incoming players. This raises the need for the franchise to rebuild its core by potentially bringing in another star-caliber player.
To facilitate this, Sports Illustrated’s Ethen Hutton presented a trade proposal to acquire RJ Barrett from the Toronto Raptors. Here are the details of the deal:
Proposed Trade Details
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: RJ Barrett, 2026 second-round pick (LAL)
Toronto Raptors Receive: Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr., 2029 first-round pick (ORL), 2027 second-round pick (ATL), 2028 second-round pick (SAC)
Given the assets being moved, it is fair to assume that the deal could have merit for both teams involved. With draft assets playing a significant role in ensuring this trade goes through, we examine what impact this would have on both parties involved.
How Does This Deal Help Toronto?
The Toronto Raptors boast a talented young core. The Raptors have a solid rotation that features the likes of Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley.
While this would suggest that Toronto is poised to be a competitive team moving forward, some rumblings suggest more changes are on the horizon.
With Ingram’s addition, the Raptors have taken on a rather significant cap hit, one that is only going to increase moving forward. With the intention of improving their roster following the 2025-26 season, Toronto will need some flexibility.
On this note, RJ Barrett has been mentioned in several trade rumors this summer. With Ingram’s arrival, the 25-year-old has become more expendable, and with an opportunity to offload his contract, the Raptors could look to use him as a trade chip.
According to Hutton, this trade would allow the Raptors to clear $6.7 million in cap space. While Barrett’s departure does imply changes to the roster, having flexibility could be viewed as a priority.
Meanwhile, the assets the franchise receives as part of this deal are also meaningful. With one first-round pick and two second-rounders, the Raptors will add to their pre-existing draft reserves, too.
The player assets may not be viewed as significant, given their reduced roles even in Memphis. But a player like Brandon Clarke could be quite meaningful.
With Chris Boucher departing for Boston this offseason, the Raptors need reinforcements in the frontcourt. Acquiring Clarke could serve to address this need.
Clarke is an athletic big man with solid rebounding ability, but he played in a reduced capacity for the Grizzlies last season. Still, he averaged 8.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 62.1% from the field.
In the role of a backup big man off the bench, the 28-year-old forward could be quite productive, especially if he receives playing time.
John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. could also play a role off the bench. Williams Jr. shows more upside between the two. At 25, he could prove to be a piece worth developing, as he averaged 6.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Although his perimeter shooting doesn’t impress much, with 27.4% shooting last season, he shows promise as a two-way player.
Meanwhile, Konchar may have a less meaningful role, primarily due to the development of Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick. He only played 12.4 minutes a game and averaged 2.4 points and 3.3 rebounds while acting as a 3-and-D option, shooting 37.1% from three-point range.
Does RJ Barrett Make The Grizzlies Better?
Considering what the Grizzlies are giving up in this deal, the acquisition of a star-caliber player like RJ Barrett could be viewed positively. Given what the guard brings to the table with his offensive versatility, Memphis would instantly become a more competitive team.
Barrett’s greatest asset is his positional flexibility and his offensive skill set. From scoring to playmaking, the 25-year-old has proven himself to be adept in every department.
Last season, he averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, while shooting 46.8% from the field and 35.0% from beyond the arc. Compared to Bane’s averages from last season, Barrett’s numbers appear to be largely identical, with a minor uptick in scoring and a shortfall in three-point shooting percentage.
For the Grizzlies, Barrett’s addition could be the key to maintaining consistency within the roster. Memphis is prone to massive swings in performance, primarily due to the inconsistent presence of its star guard, Ja Morant.
When available, Morant is among the most entertaining and prolific players in the league. Unfortunately, his frequent injuries also create challenges for the team.
Barrett’s arrival could address this. With a solid secondary ball-handler and playmaker to fill in for Morant, the Grizzlies would have some degree of stability even when the superstar is not available. Additionally, given the 25-year-old’s style of playing, he could prove to be a great fit next to a big man like Jackson Jr.
Morant’s inconsistency raises the possibility, however unlikely, of a scenario in which the Grizzlies choose to offload him to reset their direction completely.
Should Memphis Do This Deal?
For all intents and purposes, this deal caters to the Memphis Grizzlies’ roster requirements, while simultaneously satisfying the Toronto Raptors’ need for cap flexibility. On that note, it would be sensible for the Grizzlies to do this trade.
However, it is highly unlikely for the Raptors to part ways with a player like Barrett while receiving so little in return. Although the draft assets would make it a much more enticing offer, barring Clarke, the player assets may not be enough to convince the Raptors to do this trade.
Overall, although there is some merit, the issue lies in the assets offered to the Raptors.
