ESPN ranked the Memphis Grizzlies among the NBA teams most likely to make a major trade this season as the franchise continues its rebuild around Cameron Boozer.
The Memphis Grizzlies were voted the 5th-most likely team in the NBA to make a major trade this season by ESPN. Given the league's landscape, it's a fair ranking.
Memphis was far behind other teams in this ranking. They tied for fifth place with just one point, alongside the Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, and the Toronto Raptors. By contrast, the Golden State Warriors finished with nine points, the Detroit Pistons got four, and the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics tied with three each.
That's a wide range of NBA teams. Each is in a different situation. From the Grizzlies' perspective, the questions are:
What situation are they in, and what kind of trade does it necessitate?
Grizzlies Could Be Buyers or Sellers
At this moment, Memphis are rebuilding. The most logical route for them to take is as sellers.
Most likely, that means flipping veteran guard Ty Jerome. He's likely the player on this team with the most trade value who doesn't fit the team's timeline. Jerome is 29.
Otherwise, wing Jerami Grant is a strong candidate if someone is willing to take on his contract. He's a solid, versatile wing who can help the team win.
Neither move would necessarily mean the Grizzlies are giving up on the season. It would be about turning veterans who can help now into assets that could be more useful when this roster is ready to compete.
Yet, there is some buzz around the Grizzlies being surprisingly competitive this year. There is talent on this roster. If Cameron Boozer were to look more NBA-ready than expected, the Grizzlies could earn play-in consideration.
Could they be buyers in that case?
There is also a middle ground. Memphis doesn't have to make that decision immediately. The Grizzlies can see what they have early in the season and determine whether their young roster is ahead of schedule before the trade deadline approaches.
Grizzlies Should Prioritize the Future
Probably not.
Sure, the Grizzlies could be better than expected. Look at the other teams on this list. The Pistons, Celtics, Heat, Nuggets, and Rockets are all firmly in win-now mode. They're mostly stacked with veterans - only the Rockets and Pistons have the same two-timeline flexibility as Memphis.
The Warriors and Kings are in transition. They're likely sellers, although the Warriors could go either way. The broader point is that only the Grizzlies are rebuilding out of this group.
Sure, their future is bright. Why compromise that? The Grizzlies have plenty of years to compete. For now, they should be consolidating their roster for assets so that they can acquire the right players when Boozer (and Cedric Coward, Karim Lopez, et al) reaches his peak. Any wins they add in 2026-27 should be viewed as a bonus:
If they make a major trade, it shouldn't be in pursuit of them.
