Grizzlies Should Take a Flyer on Nikola Topić if Price Is Right

The Memphis Grizzlies have surprised fans around the NBA with their 6-1 start. Even if they’re ready to win now, they could still capitalize on an opportunity to make a future-focused deal by acquiring Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topić.

It’s not the type of target some fans will have in mind. They’d prefer a win-now target. Fair enough. The opportunity to exceed expectations and make a deep playoff run is certainly tantalizing.

Only the Grizzlies are already exceeding expectations. They may not even want to risk disrupting their impressive chemistry. That shouldn’t be a problem with Topić:

It’s not even certain whether he’ll play this year.

Granted, that’s not exactly a selling point.

Topić was drafted in 2024. He missed his rookie year recovering from a torn ACL he suffered before the draft. Last season, a testicular cancer diagnosis during the preseason kept him out until Feb. 12, and he appeared in 10 games. He hasn’t suited up yet this year after undergoing back surgery this summer, and he has no timetable to return.

We could talk about the 10 games Topić played last season. He averaged 11.7 points and 9.9 assists per 36 minutes, hitting 40.0% on 1.5 three-pointers per contest. He made his first career start on April 10, finishing with 14 points and 11 assists against Denver. Two days later, he had 18 points and 14 assists against Phoenix. Topić showed promise, but a 10-game sample size only means so much.

It would be more valuable to talk about Topić as an NBA prospect, given his limited NBA experience. Still, what we have seen from him at the NBA level largely aligns with what we expected from him as a prospect. Topić is an excellent playmaker with high-level floor vision, a big point guard, and a quality three-point shooter. He averaged 18.4 points and 7.8 assists while shooting 46.5% from three in 13 G League games last season.

When he’s healthy, that is. That’s far too rare an occurrence thus far. It feels increasingly likely that Topić's career will be derailed by injuries:

And that’s why he should be highly affordable on the trade market.

The Thunder declined Topić's $7.4 million fourth-year team option on Nov. 1. That means he’s expected to hit unrestricted free agency this summer. So, he’s almost certainly available.

He was the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, so Topić retains some lottery shine. That said, most of it has worn off due to his injuries. The Thunder could be open to trading him for, say, Kris Murray and a pair of second-round picks.

If they’re not? Well, the Grizzlies don’t need to be desperate. If the Thunder are asking too much for Topić, he’s too injury-prone to invest in past a certain point. That said, if they’re being reasonable, taking a low-risk, high-reward flyer on a recent lottery pick at a position of need would be a wise move for Memphis:

Even if he won’t help them win this year.