A new Bleacher Report Grizzlies-Bulls trade proposal sends Ja Morant and the No. 3 pick to Chicago while Memphis moves down to No. 4. Does it make sense?
It's rare for an NBA team to move a high lottery pick. Yet, every year, the rumors persist.
There's nobody to blame. People speculate by nature. It's fun to imagine hypotheticals. So, every year, we churn through countless wild trade ideas involving high lottery picks. Almost every year, none of them come to fruition, and teams simply hang onto their picks and draft the prospects they like the most.
That's what the Memphis Grizzlies are likely to do. That hasn't stopped the rumors from growing. Bleacher Report proposed a hypothetical deal in which the Grizzlies would move down a spot in the draft. Does the deal make sense?
It depends.
Grizzlies move down one spot in trade proposal
Let's look at the particulars.
Chicago Bulls Receive: Ja Morant and the No. 3 pick
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, Rob Dillingham, and the No. 4 pick
There's a knee-jerk negative reaction to this proposal from Andy Bailey. The Grizzlies are trading a former MVP candidate to move down a spot in the draft. It doesn't look good on paper.
That doesn't mean it's unreasonable. Regrettably, Morant has become a liability. The Grizzlies would be doing this deal to move off his contract instead of keeping it on the books for two more years.
Is that worth moving down one spot in the draft?
Grizzlies must scout carefully
Once again: It depends.
It seems foregone that AJ Dybansta will go first overall to the Washington Wizards. Next, the Utah Jazz are likely to take Darryn Peterson, although they could take Cameron Boozer. In theory, that would leave the Grizzlies choosing between whichever of those top three prospects is left on the board.
Yet, you will find scouts who prefer Caleb Wilson to Boozer, or even Peterson. Some will say this is a three-man draft, and others would disagree. So, if this deal were on the table, the Grizzlies would need to decide which of those two camps they're in.
Above all else, they need to get whoever they consider the best prospect available. Moving on from Morant isn't so important that it trumps walking away from the draft with a new cornerstone. If they happen to think that cornerstone is on the board at 4, then this deal is quite enticing.
Ultimately, the draft involves a considerable amount of luck. Most people reading this article likely have their own opinion on the top of this draft. If we can all agree on anything, it's that the Grizzlies should prioritize landing their preferred prospect over moving Morant. Still, there's logic in this deal:
Even if it requires the Grizzlies to do something that's rarely done.
Grade: B
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