NBA Trade Rumors: After Ja Morant's season-ending injury, the Memphis Grizzlies should look to retool their roster.
In short, it's been a season to forget for the Memphis Grizzlies. As soon as it was announced that Ja Morant was going to miss the first 25 games of the regular season due to a suspension, you could see the writing was on the all. The Grizzlies were set up for failure before the season even began. That was hammered home with their terrible start to the season. It has officially been punctuated by Morant's season-ended injury.
With Morant out for the year and the Grizzlies at 13-23, 4.5 games out of the 10th seed in the Western Conference standings, there's an argument to be made that this is a team that needs to embrace a bit of a retooling around their superstar guard. And the NBA Trade Deadline could be the perfect opportunity for the Grizzlies to kickstart that philosophy.
Heading into the trade deadline, which is officially less than a month away, we'll explore three players that the Grizzlies must explore trading in an attempt to shake up the supporting cast around Morant.
3 Players the Memphis Grizzlies must explore trading at the deadline
Santi Aldama
Let's start with a player who has emerged as a bit of a difference-maker as of late for the Memphis Grizzlies. As a late first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Santi Aldama has emerged as a useful contributor for the Grizzlies over the past two seasons. He's taken another step forward this year for the Grizzlies and is averaging 10 points and six rebounds on 44 percent shooting from the field and 34 percent shooting from 3-point range.
As a player who has one year remaining on his contract, playing behind Jaren Jackson Jr., I firmly believe the Grizzlies should explore cashing in on the asset that Aldama has become over the past two seasons. Especially if the Grizzlies don't believe he's going to be considered a bit part of the future, there's no reason why the Grizzlies shouldn't at the very least explore his trade market.
Luke Kennard
Heading into the NBA Trade Deadline, with the Memphis Grizzlies essentially waving the white flag on the season, Luke Kennard could end up being one of the most intriguing potential trade candidates on the open market. As a sharp-shooting guard, Kennard could have value all around the league when it comes to contenders who are looking for added depth in the backcourt or shooting. Kennard could be viewed as an even greater asset considering his contract.
Kennard has a team option for next season that is going to be viewed as extremely valuable at the deadline. Assuming the Grizzlies do want to retool their role at least somewhat around Morant heading into next season, Kennard is a player who will likely be moved in order to accomplish that. Getting ahead of that at this year's trade deadline could be a way of doing so.
Kennard is a good player that deserves to be on a contender team. With the Grizzlies not competing for a playoff spot this season and his contract situation, it just makes too much sense for Memphis to not at the very least explore the idea of trading him at the deadline.
Marcus Smart
During the offseason, in an attempt to offset the loss of Dillon Brooks, the Memphis Grizzlies traded for Marcus Smart. In essence, it seemed like a good deal and an upgrade for Memphis. So far this season, while Smart has had his bright moments, it hasn't exactly worked out that way for both sides. Smart is filling up the stat sheet for the injury-riddled Grizzlies but if Memphis wants to explore a new supporting cast around Ja Morant, they're going to have to find quality players to trade. And Smart may end up being one of them.
The Grizzlies aren't likely to trade Desmond Bane or Jaren Jackson Jr. Steven Adams is hurt. That leaves Smart as arguably the one big-name difference-maker that could get the Grizzlies the return that will allow them to make bigger moves during the offseason. Maybe the Grizzlies want to see Smart playing alongside Morant next season but is Smart the type of difference-maker that is going to help this team take a huge step forward when they're healthy?
That's what the Grizzlies will ultimately have to answer over the next few weeks. If Memphis isn't trading Smart, they're essentially going to have to run back the same supporting cast around Morant next season. Let's not forget, this was a supporting cast that got the Grizzlies off to a historically bad start.
Maybe the Grizzlies admit the move for Smart was a bit of a mistake and decide to move him at the trade deadline. There has to, at the very least, have to be a conversation about this possibility.