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Eliminated and without any FRP, I think we can start to speculate about what they should do this offseason...

I think they are headed for a shakeup...but not a teardown. Bane, JJJ, Edey, Wells, and Pippen are a strong young core...obviously, I left out a name - Ja is the supreme talent and high-visibility guy, but it seems like MEM might want to sell high due to frequent injury concerns and inefficient play become his hallmarks (not to mention the off-court stuff). MEM fired the coach, ostensibly to accomodate Ja's selfish play, but they take the opportunity to shake things up further in the summer and get some young, complementary talent and a handful of picks...

Just looking at places where MPJ would fit...how about MEM? He'd be complementary to JJJ. Not sure who to send back...but I'm thinking MEM is heading for a shakeup. Pippen looks good, so maybe Ja goes to a third team for a haul of some sort.

Like...
MEM sends: Ja Morant
MEM gets: Michael Porter, Anthony Black, #16, ORL 26 frp (top5)
Why: MPJ is a really good fit across from JJJ but there's risk, Black is def worth a frp as a versatile, long 3&D with playmaking, 2 frps including a 25. MPJ and his big contract are the risk-but if it works and he stays healthy, MEM is right back in the thick of it, without the distractions of Ja on & off the court. Obviously, MPJ's health concerns are the big elephant in the room, but so are Ja's (maybe to a lesser extent) and, if healthy, MPJ & AB are a steal.

DEN sends: Michael Porter, Zeke Nnaji
DEN gets: KCP, Jonathan Isaac, Jett Howard
Why: reset roster with immediate help around Jokic/Murray/Gordon, get off MPJ & Nnaji deals...bring in proven fit in KCP and hyper-versatile defender, Isaac and a very young sniper prospect in Howard. IF DEN prefers old Jokic buddy Gary Harris (expiring) to Jett from ORL, that's fine.

ORL sends: KCP, Jonathan Isaac, Jett Howard, Anthony Black, #16, ORL 26 frp (top5)
ORL gets: Ja Morant, Zeke Nnaji
ORL sends out redundant but valuable veteran talent, emerging strong player in AB, and two valuable frps but gets the most talented player in the deal. BUT, Ja comes with a lot of baggage and there is certainly risk to taking him into a unit with two ball-dominant forwards used to taking every shot. There may be some growing pains, but if everyone is on the same page about winning and can adapt their tremendous collective talent to team play- it's on. Nnaji is a negative deal taken on as a plus to DEN.

This is really, really bad for MEM.

ORL gets a young all star pg and doesn’t even deal one of your top 3 guys. Ja is arguably better than anyone on ORl.

I don’t like Ja but this offer is….something.

Yeah, that trade is really bad for Memphis. I don’t like it for Denver, either.

Just not even close to good for Memphis, not good for Denver, amazing, amazing, amazing for Orlando, who give up almost nothing and walk away with exactly what they need.

Skybox, how do you contemplate trading for a Top 20 player in the NBA when Orlando doesn't even give up their 1st, 2nd or 3rd best assets for the player?

IMO, just run it back and adjust around the margins.

Konchar, Clarke, GG Jackson, 4 2nds for Monk

Morant/Pippen Jr.
Bane/Monk
Wells/Williams Jr.
Jackson Jr./Aldama
Edey/Huff

OR

Go for it all with tower twins strategy:

Konchar, Clarke, Edey, GG Jackson for Gobert (saves MIN cap and give tham a solid rookie on the Ant timeline)

Morant/Pippen Jr.
Bane/MLE
Wells/Williams Jr.
Jackson Jr./Aldama
Gobert/Huff

So I still think Memphis runs this back one more time with the big 3. So I would say any changes will be around them.

Edey
JJJ/Aldama
Wells
Bane
Ja/Pippen Jr

I feel pretty good about that 7. Not sure what to make of Vince and GG, but ideally you keep both as they are super cheap. Huff too is super cheap as a backup center. One more guy I really feel confident of in a playoff rotation is what I am after.

Clarke/Konchar for me become the matching salary and I really want a wing. So maybe Cam Johnson? Use some future draft capital as the incentive?

ReggiesKnicks wrote:Skybox, how do you contemplate trading for a Top 20 player in the NBA when Orlando doesn't even give up their 1st, 2nd or 3rd best assets for the player?

It's doable, and I suspect that Ja's market is considerably softer than fans appreciate, but the amount of picks offered needs to double.

jbk1234 wrote:

ReggiesKnicks wrote:Skybox, how do you contemplate trading for a Top 20 player in the NBA when Orlando doesn't even give up their 1st, 2nd or 3rd best assets for the player?

It's doable, and I suspect that Ja's market is considerably softer than fans appreciate, but the amount of picks offered needs to double.

I think it takes a Rudy Gobert like package.

Texas Chuck wrote:So I still think Memphis runs this back one more time with the big 3. So I would say any changes will be around them.

Edey
JJJ/Aldama
Wells
Bane
Ja/Pippen Jr

I feel pretty good about that 7. Not sure what to make of Vince and GG, but ideally you keep both as they are super cheap. Huff too is super cheap as a backup center. One more guy I really feel confident of in a playoff rotation is what I am after.

Clarke/Konchar for me become the matching salary and I really want a wing. So maybe Cam Johnson? Use some future draft capital as the incentive?

I can definitely see management and ownership wanting to run it back with ownership not wanting to mortgage more of the future, and probably rightfully so given Memphis' anemic post-season track record with this core.

That's the most likely outcome, anyway.

Morant + Clarke for FVV + Eason + PHX picks and call it a day

It’s probably too crazy but Giannis would be a perfect fit with JJJ and Bane. Milwaukee would probably like Morant in a swap to stay relevant




Morant
Edey
Future 1st

For

Giannis

Saul Goodman wrote:It’s probably too crazy but Giannis would be a perfect fit with JJJ and Bane. Milwaukee would probably like Morant in a swap to stay relevant
Morant
Edey
Future 1st

For

Giannis

Plausible

Saul Goodman wrote:It’s probably too crazy but Giannis would be a perfect fit with JJJ and Bane. Milwaukee would probably like Morant in a swap to stay relevant




Morant
Edey
Future 1st

For

Giannis

Takes few more 1sts than that

Godaddycurse wrote:

Saul Goodman wrote:It’s probably too crazy but Giannis would be a perfect fit with JJJ and Bane. Milwaukee would probably like Morant in a swap to stay relevant




Morant
Edey
Future 1st

For

Giannis

Takes few more 1sts than that

Besides including a few more picks, Memphis would need to include Brandon Clarke for salary matching purposes.

But I see the logic here. Memphis gets 2 years with Giannis under contract and a big 3 of Giannis/JJJ/Bane with enough depth left of the roster. This looks like the base of a contender. But in theory Memphis 2028 1st would go to Milwaukee unprotected, and there is a somewhat high probability of Giannis walking after 2 years.

And for Milwaukee, you’re betting on Morant keeping you relevant until you regain control of your draft picks in 2031. They would look to move Lillard and next season could become a retool year (although New Orleans has swap rights on the pick both could be in the lottery).

When I see a team that is less than the sum of it's parts, I immediately think coaching.

If we keep the core

Trade Santi/26/28 1st for Cam Johnson
Trade Konchar/GG for Lonzo Ball

Ja/Des/Cam/Trip/Edey
SPJ/Lonzo/Wells/VWJ/Clarke

But not sure what we decide to do Herb Jones would be a Home Run with the Core.

They’ll run it back and convince themselves they have a star on their team when they really have like 3 top 35 guys

I think the Grizzlies should retool around Jaren Jackson Jr. This core has ran its course and JA Morant is not a legit 1st option on a Championship team. I think should trade JA Morant to the highest bidder this off season. See what's the future status of Jaren Jackson. If he appears to be uncommitted to the Grizzlies beyond next year, then they should also move him to the highest bidder, which at that point is basically a rebuild with Desmond Bane. Basically what I think the Grizzlies should is blow up the core. What they will actually do is who knows? Anything is on the table. From basically running it back with same team to a full rebuild and anything in between.