The Grizzlies are the mystery team that was willing to put four future first-round picks in a trade offer for forward Mikal Bridges, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on his Lowe Post podcast after Thursday’s trade deadline that he had heard of one team offering four first-rounders to the Nets for Bridges. Brooklyn acquired the 26-year-old forward from the Suns as part of its package for Kevin Durant.
While I have no doubt that Scotto’s and Lowe’s reporting is accurate (ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski also said during a TV appearance that Memphis “tried really hard” to get Bridges or Raptors forward OG Anunoby), there’s an important caveat worth mentioning: neither reporter could confirm the protection details of those four first-rounders the Grizzlies put on the table.
Memphis controls all of its own future first-round picks, as well as the Warriors’ 2024 first-rounder (top-four protected). It’s safe to assume the Grizzlies would have offered their own 2023 first-rounder, which currently projects to be just 25th overall. If Memphis also wanted to add protections to a couple other picks in its offer, it’s easier to understand why Brooklyn was comfortable hanging onto Bridges, a talented two-way player who is under contract through 2025/26.
It’s also worth noting that the Grizzlies’ core is still very young, so their first-round picks from 2025-29 could be considered less valuable than future first-rounders from an older team whose stars might not still be playing by the time those later picks convey.
Bridges is averaging career highs in points (17.2), rebounds (4.3), and assists (3.6) per game this season, and is a career .499/.376/.848 shooter who is also a strong, versatile defender. The Suns were reportedly extremely reluctant to include him in their package for Durant, and Scotto reported earlier this week that several teams immediately called the Nets to see if they’d be willing to flip him.
Having missed out on three-and-D wings like Bridges and Anunoby, Memphis instead completed a deadline-day deal for Luke Kennard, who is one of the NBA’s best shooters but isn’t nearly the defender that Bridges or Anunoby is.
Still, as Evan Barnes of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes, the Grizzlies are excited to add Kennard and his .427 career 3PT% to their rotation. Head coach Taylor Jenkins suggested that the newest member of the Grizzlies could share the court with Desmond Bane, another one of the NBA’s top outside shooters.
“That’s what one of our guys was talking about last night,” Bane said. “Just having another guy that can really shoot and has done it at a high level for a while now. So I’m looking forward to seeing what it looks like.”
That would of been great for the grizzlies
I’ve seen elsewhere commenters trying to tear Sean Marks down for this, but the point of these deals besides accommodating stars who wanted out was to retain the ability to compete now and in the future. Draft picks are lottery tickets. The Nets would love for one of them to hit with a player like Bridges, but they’ve already picked up five unprotected first rounders over this deadline. They sought the deal from Phoenix once it was clear KD wanted out and my understanding is that it was basically take it or leave it.
If the Grizzlies offered 4 firsts for Bridges then 2 people should be out of a job. The Grizzlies GM for offering and the Suns GM for not accepting.
Bridges is signed to another 3 year deal with a team friendly deal. The 4 draft picks will most likely be non-lottery picks so no where top picks.
Krause the article said the Nets were made the offer after Phoenix traded him
I don’t read so good.
Grizz would love to ditch Brooks for Bridges
I’d be willing to ditch Brooks for a protected 2030 2nd rounder. The dude is less deserving of his respectable level of playing time than anyone else in the league
*respective*
As the article points out, no one knows what these picks were. The Grizz own picks are likely to be very low (especially after adding Bridges), and the Warriors pick they have isn’t gonna be below 20 either. And they could have protected them all. I wouldn’t trade Bridges for four future picks in the mid to late 20’s with top 20 protection. No way.
Knicks 4 Firsts, BIG Yes
Grizzlies 4 Firsts, no and thank you
Two results
No
Thank you
I always fall in love with Knicks unprotected Firsts
So this report said that the picks (which would be around the early to late 20s most likely) also had protections add on top another report saying the grizzlies offered no players just picks and it makes sense why Marks said no.
To be clear:
1. I’m not saying the picks definitely included protections. Just saying we don’t know if they did or not (and I suspect the Grizzlies would’ve wanted to protect at least one or two).
2. The Grizzlies would have had to offer some combination of players for salary-matching purposes. They would’ve needed to send out $15MM, so even if they started with Danny Green ($10MM), they would’ve had to include two other lower-paid players.
Bridges a good player. Nets made out great in the trade. Suns made a good gamble though. If everyone healthy, they winning the championship.
Mikal effectivley got his own team with the Nets. Four first rounders offered puts him the same class as Durant and Gobert.
A FRP should still principally be valued based on where it’s likely to land and vest. If a FO pays a premium above that for a FRP pick based merely on it being “unprotected” in name, then it’s really crossed the line from being makers of basketball decisions to gamblers. When a current or projected lottery team trades its FRP unprotected, that’s a meaningful transaction, and likely one informed by basketball decisions on both sides.
My favorite Grizzlies trade was the one in 1997 where they acquired Otis Thorpe from the Pistons in exchange for a first round pick. But also was a horrible selection by the Pistons. The pick could’ve conveyed for 5 years but kept being in the lottery sometimes lower in the lottery. I felt bad for the Memphis fans at the time because the trade was made while the franchise was in Vancouver BC. Could you imagine if Melo or DWade or Bosh were drafted by the Grizzlies instead of Denver, Miami or Toronto?
probably wade. big country, shareef, hurley, chilcutt, daniels.
Nets must like Bridges. I like him too. Future all star. He and Ben give you a good 3, 4 combo. With Claxton, Dinwiddie. You need to add a scorer to that group.
Nets have plenty picks to add another star.
I like the thought process of Mem here
They are never going to attract in free agency and seem destined to have picks in the 20s for a good while
Draft picks have always been overrated in here but the formula is going to work ( someday ) and be met with a red carpet from 2 k nation and labeled a trailblazer for all to follow –
Until then Memphis will continue to do what it’s done for the last 15 years and punch up ( even if they don’t get their just do league wide )