The Memphis Grizzlies could have pursued Max Strus with their $28.8 million trade exception, but passing on the veteran shooter was no major mistake.
The Memphis Grizzlies have been involved in a lot of trades this summer, but they didn't get in on a big one that went down recently. Should they have used their massive $28.8 million trade exception to add sharpshooting wing Max Strus?
August in NBA circles is a funny time. There is not much happening. Most media outlets will take some time to propose hypothetical trades. Sometimes, life imitates art.
Just recently, Heavy.com published a piece discussing a Bleacher Report proposal that had the Grizzlies acting as a facilitator in a Peyton Watson deal. I wrote a piece grading that trade (Heavy, if you're reading this, I gave you an A), but before it could be published, a similar deal went down in real life — and the Grizzlies weren't involved.
Was that a mistake?
Grizzlies Could Have Used Trade Exception On Max Strus
Without recapping every detail, the proposal had Memphis bringing in Strus, Zeke Nnaji and three second-round picks for GG Jackson II.
The real trade eventually involved five teams. The point here is that none of them were the Grizzlies. Strus found his way to the Los Angeles Clippers.
But should the Grizzlies have acquired him?
When I wrote about the Heavy article, I focused on the draft capital the Grizzlies were receiving. As a rebuilding team, it could feel counterintuitive to suggest they should be in the market for someone like Strus.
That said, he's the type of veteran who could complement Cameron Boozer as Memphis builds its next core. The Grizzlies are likely done tanking. Winning won't be imperative next year, but they won't be avoiding wins. If they want to start envisioning their roster as built around Boozer, that would be reasonable.
So, bringing in Strus would have made sense. He would have been a fine acquisition:
But the Grizzlies don't need to regret letting him slip away.
Grizzlies Have Time To Find The Right Pieces Around Cameron Boozer
Eventually, the Grizzlies will need a Strus-like player. A movement shooter who teams scramble to close out is an essential component of a team built around a playmaking hub like Boozer.
That doesn't mean they should be desperate to add that guy now.
The Cavaliers gave up Strus and an unprotected 2031 first-round pick as part of the larger deal that brought Peyton Watson and Cam Whitmore to Cleveland. It's not immediately clear how the Grizzlies would have been necessary in that transaction.
As a young, rebuilding team, they need to be prioritizing asset accumulation over win-now roster construction. That's been the direction since Memphis traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz and created the massive trade exception in the first place.
Boozer is already viewed as the centerpiece of the Grizzlies' next era. Memphis has time to find shooting around him.
Plus, they've probably made enough trades for the summer.
