We suggest one trade the LA Clippers could make with the Memphis Grizzlies.
While the LA Clippers will be looking to contend for an NBA title once the season resumes their hypothetical trade partner for today will be looking to hold on to their current position at the bottom of the Western Conference playoffs.
The Memphis Grizzlies hold the eighth seed in the Western Conference with a record of 32-33. They will have stiff competition for that spot from the Portland Trail Blazers and the New Orleans Pelicans, who will be nipping at their heels fighting to make the playoffs in Orlando.
The Grizzlies are a young team with a bright future ahead of them. Rookie of the Year candidate Ja Morant looks like a star in the NBA for many years to come. Second-year forward Jaren Jackson Jr. has the potential to be a star as well. The roster is full of young, promising talent in players like Justice Winslow, Brandon Clarke, Tyus Jones, De’Antony Melton, and Dillon Brooks. Memphis also features some veteran talent and leadership from Jonas Valanciunas, Kyle Anderson, and Gorgui Dieng.
This combination of a team on the rise makes them a difficult trade partner for the Clippers. Memphis’ veteran talent doesn’t really move the needle much in terms of helping the Clippers win now. We wouldn’t exactly recommend trading for Jonas Valanciunas and his $16 million contract when the Clippers already have Ivica Zubac under contract for four more years at a much lower salary.
We thought about working a deal for the Clippers to acquire third-year forward Josh Jackson as a way to have the former fourth overall pick be taken under the wing of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. However, his $7 million contract would be difficult to match even in a hypothetical trade.
So, we’re going to suggest a move to get the Clippers a young player with some potential, but some bit question marks surrounding his health and future.
Why we suggest this trade for the LA Clippers:
Jontay Porter is a six-foot-eleven big man currently in his rookie year out of Missouri. The brother of Denver’s second-year breakout feel-good story Michael Porter comes with his own set of injury concerns after tearing his ACL twice in the past two years.
Before the injuries, Porter was a highly touted recruit out of Missouri, and if he can recover he’d give the Clippers a young, talented big man to help fill out their roster for the future.
Would the Grizzlies do it?
Memphis signed Porter to a deal in March after he showed progress in recovering from his knee injuries. Letting go of him now would be strange, but offering up a player under team control for four years, like Terance Mann, would give the Grizzlies another young piece to hopefully hit on to add to their young, up-and-coming roster.
Read the rest of our “One Trade with every Team” series here:
Pacific Division: Lakers, Warriors, Kings, Suns
Northwest Division: Nuggets, Jazz, Thunder, Blazers, Timberwolves
Southwest Division: Rockets, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Spurs
Atlantic Division: Raptors, Celtics, 76ers, Nets, Knicks
Central Division: Bucks, Pacers, Bulls, Pistons, Cavaliers
Southeast Division: Heat, Magic, Wizards, Hornets, Hawks