The Grizzlies faced some criticism for last week’s trade with Miami and Minnesota, which saw them trade away veteran forwards Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, and Solomon Hill for Justise Winslow, Gorgui Dieng, and Dion Waiters.
The price for acquiring Winslow was taking on a pair of pricey multiyear contracts that – along with a Dillon Brooks extension – eliminated Memphis’ projected cap room for the summer of 2020. However, executive VP of basketball operations Zach Kleiman said today that the team feels Winslow is worth that price, as Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian relays.
Kleiman referred to Winslow as a player who will be a “very strong fit” both on and off the court for the Grizzlies, praising the forward’s work ethic, basketball IQ, and defensive tenacity.
“There were several options that were on the table at the end of the day,” Kleiman said. “… We’re well aware that we leveraged our cap space (for 2020), pulling ourselves out of the free agent market. There’s an opportunity cost to doing so. None of that is lost on us. But to be able to add one player that we believe in as a key piece to fit what we’re building, that was Plan A. That was the deal that we were hoping to get.”
Of course, Winslow’s health is the question mark that looms over the deal, but Kleiman said today that Memphis fully expects the former lottery pick to return to the court this season and is confident his back injury won’t be a long-term issue, per Herrington.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- By insisting on finding a trade for Andre Iguodala instead of simply buying him out, the Grizzlies aimed to send a message to the rest of the NBA that they shouldn’t just be viewed as a “feeder system for the league’s glamour destinations,” writes Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.
- Despite a little drama leading up to the trade deadline, both Iguodala and the Grizzlies said they were on the same page when it came to having the swingman stay away from the team. Iguodala told Sam Amick of The Athletic that the Grizzlies actually approached him about the idea. “We were in communication with Andre’s camp,” Kleiman said today, per Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian. “The communications were fine and we were on the same page throughout.”
- David Aldridge of The Athletic shares some Mavericks-related trade deadline leftovers, reporting that the team inquired on Alex Len before the Hawks sent him to Sacramento. Aldridge also says there was “scuttlebutt in the air” that Delon Wright and/or Justin Jackson were available.
- Rockets guard Eric Gordon is expected to be sidelined with a left shin contusion until after the All-Star break, head coach Mike D’Antoni said today (Twitter link via Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston).
I want to know what the Timberwolves wanted from Dallas for Wiggins. or if Dallas didnt want wiggins contracts to begin with
Let me clarify, I wonder what Dallas had to give up for Wiggins
Seeing as how they weren’t going to give up Doncic, one would have to imagine that any trade for Wiggins would likely have involved Kristaps.
Lee, Powell, and Wright can match salaries, or Hardaway + one of the three if Wolves just want to dump Wiggins.
Mavs dont want to trade powell either. Mark cuban is in love with powell. I can see Lee and Wright for sure and maybe DFS or Justin jackson along with the warriors 2020 2nd or mavs 2025 1st. But mavs would have to give up the protection rights on the 2023 pick the Knicks own
Hahahaha dallas would of hung up the phone if they wanted KP
Wolves would have hung up too if KP wasn’t offered.
Mkay.. Wiggins suddenly had value.. mkay
Lol
Winslow was one of the Heats biggest draft blunders if the 4 1sts are true from the Celtics.
No the Celtics offered the picks to Charlotte not Miami.
Mavs dont want to trade powell either. Mark cuban is in love with powell. I can see Lee and Wright for sure and maybe DFS or Justin jackson along with the warriors 2020 2nd or mavs 2025 1st. But mavs would have to give up the protection rights on the 2023 pick the Knicks own
Winslow is going to be really good next to JJJ and JA. I find it interesting that they grabbed Josh Jackson and then Winslow, as I feel like Jackson is a taller version of Justise, while Justise is stronger, smarter, and currently the better player
I dont know why Memphis was dogged about the deal. The only question is maybe James Johnson for Dieng, but Dieng gives them a backup big they arguably needed, and JJ probably takes away from their other options at the 4/5, including JJJ at the 5. I’d also question releasing Waiters, but not sure if I saw the path to playing time there for him
The Grizzlies front office clearly knows what it is doing, and I’d rather trust their judgment than the opinions of clueless media or fans.