The Grizzlies and Pelicans made a significant splash today, agreeing to the first trade of NBA draft week. As we previously relayed, Memphis will ship center Jonas Valanciunas and the Nos. 17 and 51 selections in the 2021 draft to New Orleans for center Steven Adams, guard Eric Bledsoe, the Nos. 10 and 40 picks, plus the Lakers’ top-10 protected 2022 first-round pick.
The top-10 protected 2022 Lakers pick will become two second-rounders if it doesn’t convey in next year’s draft, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The protection was previously reported, but the two second-rounders element was not.
It appears that the Grizzlies may not be done dealing, as they look to continue to build their roster around promising point guard Ja Morant and intriguing big man Jaren Jackson Jr. Morant led the Grizzlies to their first playoff appearance since the 2016/17 season this year. Memphis fell 4-1 in the first round to the Jazz.
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer (Twitter link), the Grizzlies may be looking to move up even higher in the lottery ahead of Thursday’s draft. Memphis could be trying to add NBA G League Ignite forward Jonathan Kuminga or Connecticut guard James Bouknight, per O’Connor.
Jonathan Givony of ESPN adds (via Twitter) that the Grizzlies also auditioned Arkansas guard Moses Moody during a private Los Angeles work out last week, apparently expecting to move into the lottery even at the time. Givony adds (Twitter link) that Michigan forward Franz Wagner, projected to be selected as high as the No. 7 pick, could be a potential Grizzlies target. Adelaide point guard Josh Giddey is another apparent prospect for Memphis, as previously noted.
New Grizzlies guard Bledsoe, who had a down season during his lone year with the Pelicans, is not anticipated to remain in Memphis next season, tweets Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
It is not at present clear if Bledsoe, a two-time All-Defensive Team selection, will be traded or will be waived (and possibly stretched). The Grizzlies would most likely need to attach assets in any trade of Bledsoe.
Luke Adams contributed to this report.
If the Grizzlies want to trade to 7, Warriors should ask for their 2024 pick back.
No!
I don’t think they would necessarily have to attach assets to Bledsoe. It depends on what they are willing to take back. He’s not been great recently, but I don’t think he is the worst asset in the NBA either.
I bet Washington would send them Bertans and the #15 for Bledsoe if they wanted. I know I would. Kevin Love could also be an option.
Bledsoe is way past his prime. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind they’d have to attach assets to clear his $18M off the books.
Washington would be absolutely ludicrous to trade #15 for Bledsoe. This is a deep draft, and Washington is clearly a rebuilding franchise.
Your takes just get worse and worse on here, kind of like Eric Bledsoe’s game. Maybe you should both retire.
Your comprehension just gets worse and worse around here. I didn’t say to trade the 15 for Bledsoe. I said trade the 15 AND BERTANS for Bledsoe. Bertans is on a longer term deal and is likely to be even less useful for a rebuilding Washington team.
So maybe instead of coming up with lame quips about me, turn your brain on and actually think about EVERYTHING I wrote instead of just cherry picking to appear funny.
Dude why would a rebuilding team give away a first round pick to clear a bad contract for a bad contract, that’s how gme get fired, clearly you haven’t even been hired
Because Bertans contract runs for 4 more years while Bledsoe’s is only guaranteed for 1 more. It’s simple math. Yes they are giving away a mid round first, BUT they will also be opening $16MM per season in cap room. That is the kind of space that can let acquire a couple of bad deals along with first round picks. Washington is about to START a rebuild, not finish one. Using mid round draft picks now is not the best way to maximize your rebuild. Trading players that are tying up your future cap space is.
That trade would be good for Bertans, who could keep up with Morant better than existing forwards… Anderson plays his own game and JJJ is a mystery.
The team Bertans signed with did not have Westbrook.
he would try to trade for Kuzma..Lakers need a Flamethrower..bertans terrible defense could be hidden and with all Lebron’s open shots he could feast
Wizards with Beal, Westbrook, Bertans (signed contract, 1 year ago) rebuilding team ??? that’s not true … should I exploit it? Sure … but it hasn’t happened yet
You obviously don’t follow the Wizards. They act like they are a legit contender. So while it would normally not make sense for a team in their position to do something like that, they’ll probably be dumb enough to do it to continue their brand of fringe playoffs mediocrity.
That makes it worse…I’d argue Bledsoe isn’t even worth Bertans
It’s their contracts and fits, not some measure of quality. Both players would benefit really, assuming Bled is not a starter anymore. MEM has 3 PGs already and Ish Smith, like Bertans, no longer connect with a Westbrook offense.
IDK who owes who anything else.
You act as if 18mil for one year is THAT bad of a contract. It’s not. It’s not good, but it’s easily moveable.
Bertans 28, 4/$65m, 40%3, lost importance
Bledsoe 31, 2/$37.5m, prob washed
Their best bet is a team in danger of paying tax with a similarly bad contract. That team can waive and stretch Bledsoe at 4.4 per year over the next 5.
Exactly
This is fair trade – Eric for Eric
Rockets get Eric Bledsoe contract $18M + 4M
Grizzlies get Eric Gordon contract $18M + $20M and 24th pick
Why should Rockets do it?
1. Cost saving $16 million
2. Gordon is top tier injury prone player
Wow!
You trade Bledsoe for this year 24th pick
Bledsoe is a downgrade from Gordon, that trade makes no sense.
makes a lot of sense … Bledsoe is expiring (not guaranteed 22/23) and after this year, Houston (rebuilding team) eliminates Gordon’s (terrible) contract that he can barely stay healthy .. Houston should send some assets in fact
Nobody is trading for Kevin Love unless there picks attached.
That was my point. I was trying to show that Eric Bledsoe is not the worst asset in the NBA right now. In a Bledsoe for Love deal, it would be Cleveland adding picks, not Memphis.
No way Washington does that deal. At that price how would he help them. His poor shooting and diminished skills make him a non factor bc of his contract. Bertrans for Bledsoe straight up but why would they send a fringe lotto Pick?
Bledsoe (and his entire salary) and next years 1st to the Knicks for Knox. Grizz save a ton of cap space and take a flier on a young wing. Knicks get a defensive guard and a future first to use as a trade chip for their never ending star search.
Uh nope Memphis can’t get FAs because it’s well Memphis, that’s the whole reason they are doing all this to shake things up.
As a Knicks fan, I would rather they find a more productive use of their cap space, but it’s not the worst idea on the world. They’d get rid of Knox and get a mid- to late-round first, so not bad. If a bunch of their plans fall through, I’d do it.
So Oubre in a sign and trade plus a draft pick for one of the big men. GSW is waving those draft picks and say come and get them.
Bob Myers literally just said an hour ago they’re keeping them unless a huge star is offered (Beal), just as you argued against in other threads when I posted it. Why argue what the FO is saying out loud?
I have no idea where you come up with this “GSW is waving those draft picks” its almost like you are getting your info out of thin air and what you want to happen is reality – not true.
How am I arguing with the FO? Adams or Valancius is what the Warriors needs more than another scorer. Bob Meyers never said he wasn’t going to trade the picks just he hasn’t been offered a star for them. Could be a draft and trade. Oubre is not a free agent yet but GSW could work something out for a sign and trade. Beal isn’t even on the trade market and you pretend he is.
That’s funny. Marty is criticizing for getting your info “out of thin air”? When you look back at what he has said; we know where he is getting his info. That air really pretty thick.
Marty is always claiming some big star wants to play on GSW. No different than what he said about Beal when nothing from bob Meyers about wanting to trade for Beal.
Like when he was convinced that Kawhi was going there before his injury.
Kawhi plus KD next year. Marty had them paying like $250 million in luxury taxes given the escalators (because having Steph, Klay, Green, KD, Kawhi, and Wiggins would put them astronomically over the cap) but said it didn’t matter because Lacob is rich and would gladly pay it. One of the funniest things I’ve ever read here.
Franz Wagner is not a center. Love you hoops rumors but please proofread!
Wagner is a big guard with great passing skill.
Nope. He is a small forward.
His brother is.
Looks like the the stars might be aligning for a Raptors reunion. I’m from the Toronto area an article the other day, said Lowry & DeRozan wanted to play together and the Pels would make sense for them to team up with Zion. Lots of $$$ to move around but that’s a Championship rotation is a city that wants it bad!
Memphis made a great trade. Online cats play too many video games…not that I don’t…but I see the vision..
In the video games, Memphis can use cap space to sign Durant or Harden. In real life, Memphis has to trade or draft superstars. This is how they do it. Draft picks and matching salaries…if at all
I’m not sure why Bledsoe couldn’t just back up Ja, there’s absolutely no reason to trade him away. Let him rebuild his stock as a spark plug off the bench instead of trading away more draft assets just to get rid of him…
JV is the best player in this deal what are y’all smoking?
He literally averaged a double double and can stretch the floor, pass, and defend. How is he not? He had the best numbers and game out of the 3 players..
Pelicans have already pissed away half the picks they got for Anthony Davis. Lol.
A deal that make sense.
Gs gets bledsoe, anderson , grayson allen tillman ,#10:2024 gs pick for wiggins # 7 makes alot of sense
Valanciunas just posted a 17.1 pt, 12.5 reb, .592 FG%.
In 28 mins a gm at 28 yrs old. And all you can talk about is Bledsoe’s contract. Are there any real basketball fans here????
Both teams got value here. Must mean they can play Jackson at Center. The #10 pick is a player that can help now. And in the future. Definitely building this team around Morant. They could hit big with this pick. Or even trade up a few spots for Kuminga. He’s been dropping to 8. He’d be a great fit and steal for them.
Pelicans made their team stronger now. They got a good center that is at his best now. He helps both Zion and Ingram. Now if they had good PG play. They are a playoff team. I doubt they want Ball. But it’ll probably be a sign n trade with him. #17 pick is still a player that can help. Like it for both teams.
Bledsoe was abysmal. Not only his horrendous play, but admitted “lack of focus” at critical times. He was the polar opposite of veteran leadership. The only thing worse was SVG’s insistence on continually playing him.