Memphis Grizzlies fans have heard the warning before: do not expect much in return for Ja Morant.

The NBA can be cruel. A couple of years ago, Morant was a perennial MVP candidate, but a run of injuries and suspensions stalled his momentum. As a smaller guard with an unreliable jump shot, he now carries the kind of risk profile that flattens trade value. If the Grizzlies can land a first-round pick for him, they should take it, and Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes has them doing exactly that in a new proposal.

Hughes sends Morant to the Sacramento Kings in this hypothetical. The details:

Sacramento Kings receive:

Memphis Grizzlies receive:

This isn't the deal anyone wanted for Morant, and calling it a strong package will ruffle feathers. The pick is protected, but that is the reality of this market: no one is surrendering an unprotected first for a player with Morant's injury and availability concerns. This is about as good as it gets.

The upside is that there are no bad contracts coming back. DeRozan's deal expires after next season, so a single year on the books does Memphis no harm, and the Grizzlies could even flip him to a contender hunting for scoring at the deadline. The same goes for Hunter, though Memphis might be more inclined to keep him; the 28-year-old three-and-D wing could be a useful rotation piece if the franchise wants to return to competitive basketball quickly. Otherwise, he should draw interest at the deadline too.

The 2030 first-round pick still counts as an asset, even with the protection. Memphis could move it before the draft or hold it and bet on variance, since the league's flattened lottery odds make pick outcomes less predictable than ever. Even if the Timberwolves bottom out that season, the pick could still convey.

There is also plain value in shedding Morant's contract. Both sides need a fresh start, and as talented as Morant is, Memphis is ready to move into the Cameron Boozer era, with Darryn Peterson another possibility near the top of this draft. Ideally, the next franchise cornerstone is someone the Grizzlies have no reason to trade for a long time.

Grade: A

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