The dust has settled, and the Grizzlies look slightly different than they did before Thursday afternoon.
Memphis made one trade just before the NBA trade deadline, dealing Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia in a three-team trade that brought Marvin Bagley III and Johnny Davis to Memphis. The Grizzlies also traded their 2025 first-round pick to Washington (with Smart), while LaRavia went to Sacramento and Memphis got a pair of second round picks.
It wasn’t the splashy move for Jimmy Butler or Kevin Durant that some fans wanted, but Memphis (35-16) does have more flexibility and much more clear pecking order in the rotation. Here’s how the trade affects the Grizzlies for the rest of the 2024-25 season and into their future.
Trade gives Grizzlies more salary cap flexibility in 2025 offseason
Memphis traded two first-round picks for Smart and then had to trade another one to get him to Washington just a year and a half later. The Grizzlies were well-positioned with all their future draft picks, and the 2025 pick won’t be in the lottery.
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General manager Zach Kleiman had to attach the pick to trade Smart because of Smart’s contract, which runs through the 2025-26 season and will pay him $21.6 million next season.
But it’ll give Kleiman more flexibility this summer. Jaren Jackson Jr. will be extension-eligible and could command a super-max deal, while Santi Aldama will be a restricted free agent and Luke Kennard will be an unrestricted free agent.
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What Marvin Bagley III, Johnny Davis bring to Memphis
The Grizzlies traded two players and brought back two players, though it’s highly unlikely Kleiman’s motivation for the deal was to land Bagley and Davis. Both players came from the Wizards and are on expiring contracts.
Bagley was the No. 2 overall pick in 2018 when the Grizzlies picked Jackson No. 4 but has bounced around the NBA during his career with the Kings, Pistons and Wizards. He’s played in only 19 games this season and is averaging 4.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Bagley does give Memphis more frontcourt depth behind rookie Zach Edey. But the Grizzlies already have Brandon Clarke and Jay Huff there as well.
Davis was the No. 10 overall pick in 2022 out of Wisconsin but has been a disappointment in the NBA. He’s played in 34 games this season but is averaging only 7.1 minutes and 2.4 points per game.
Where Grizzlies roster, rotation stand after NBA trade deadline
Trading Smart — who had just returned in Wednesday’s win over the Raptors after a lengthy injury absence — and LaRavia does provide some clarity for what had become a crowded Grizzlies rotation, especially among wings.
Rookie Jaylen Wells established himself as a starter with Smart, GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. out injured. Williams, Jackson and Kennard all figure to play roles behind Wells and Desmond Bane, which left fewer opportunities for LaRavia, Smart or John Konchar.
While the rest of the regular season will help coach Taylor Jenkins figure out exact roles and minutes distributions, here’s a shot at projecting Memphis’ post-deadline rotation.
Starters: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaylen Wells, Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey
Reserves: Santi Aldama, Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Luke Kennard
Others: Scotty Pippen Jr., Jay Huff, John Konchar, Marvin Bagley, Johnny Davis
It seems likely that Jenkins will continue to roll with a larger rotation during the regular season. Assuming full health, that still means leaving out Pippen or Kennard. Huff has been effective in limited minutes this season and could get work in spots, while Bagley and Davis don’t have immediate paths to significant minutes.
As for a potential playoff rotation? That’s what the next 31 games will help figure out.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at [email protected] or on X @thejonahdylan.
