The Memphis Grizzlies want to trade Ja Morant. Taking on Jakob Poeltl's contract could let them move on without attaching future first-round picks.
Nobody knows whether the Memphis Grizzlies will manage to trade Ja Morant this summer.
They'd like to move him. That's obvious by now. The Grizzlies are ready for a fresh start. They'd prefer to begin the Cameron Boozer era with Morant in a different uniform:
But how they get there is anyone's guess.
The trade market for Morant is apparently tepid. It's been one of the stories of the NBA offseason. How is it that a former MVP candidate can't be moved?
You know the answer. Morant, unfortunately, has been one of the least reliable stars in the NBA. His inability to stay on the floor has destroyed his trade value. If the Grizzlies need to take on a bad contract to move him, they should:
Even if it's the Toronto Raptors' Jakob Poeltl.
Grizzlies Could Take On Bad Money in Morant Deal
Some would call Poeltl's deal the worst in the Association. He's making $28 million a year through the 2028-29 season.
When he's healthy, Poeltl is a solid defensive big. He'd still be arguably overpaid, but to a much lesser extent if he were durable:
But he's not.
Like Morant, Poeltl is regularly hurt. So, his contract is brutal. Since it runs longer than Morant's, and given Poeltl's (significantly) lower upside, it should be seen as a worse asset than Morant's deal.
Which is exactly why it's a perfect trade target for the Grizzlies.
Grizzlies Should Move On From Morant Without Surrendering Assets
For most teams, Poeltl would be a problem. For the Grizzlies, he represents an opportunity:
This is one player who could allow them to move Morant without using any future first-round picks to entice teams to take him on.
Would the Raptors be open to, say, Poeltl and Gradey Dick for Morant? No picks involved. If they want to take a swing on Morant, that's the type of deal the Grizzlie should strongly consider.
Every team in the NBA is in their own situation. Some teams need to rigidly manage their cap space. Others can afford a bad deal on their books. The Grizzlies fall into the latter camp - especially if they move Morant.
With their star guard gone, they'll be solely on Cameron Boozer's timeline. That means the Grizzlies won't be thinking about the NBA championship for some time. Realistically, they may be looking to flip the switch in three years when Poeltl's deal expires.
This could all be for nothing. It's possible that the Raptors wouldn't even be willing to negotiate. That said, paradoxical as it may seem to some fans, taking on the league's worst money might be the best way for the Grizzlies to trade Morant without attaching assets to his deal:
Whether it will happen or not is anyone's guess.
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