Why Memphis Grizzlies should buy or sell before NBA Trade Deadline

The Memphis Grizzlies are doing their best to make the playoffs this year. Right now they’re 20-20, sitting in 10th place, hoping to qualify for at least the play-in tournament if not clinch a spot outright. Their last playoff appearance came in 2016-17 when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round (for the second year in a row), but now they’ll be looking to make their return to the postseason after missing out for the last three years straight. They don’t have anyone who’s averaging over 20 points per game, but point guard Ja Morant is pretty close with 19.3 PPG on the season, adding a decent 7.5 APG as well. They’ve been navigating this season without 21-year-old Jaren Jackson Jr, who’s been out with a meniscus injury and has been recovering from surgery. Reports have seen him back on the court in training, but the Grizzlies haven’t seen him back in uniform just yet.

Memphis is stacked with big men. More than they realistically need, actually. Taking one look a their roster will show a wealth of guys who can play in both the power forward and center positions. Guys like Jonas Valanciunas, Jontay Porter, Gorgui Dieng, Killian Tillie, and Kyle Anderson. Not to mention when they see the return of Jaren Jackson Jr, that means less available minutes for several of those guys in those spots. While they don’t have a lot of big players they’re targeting, Gorgui Dieng is at the forefront of trade talks and has interest from several teams.

The New York Knicks are reportedly interested in Dieng, given that center Mitchell Robinson was out with a hand injury and they are in need of more depth at the position behind Nerlens Noel. The Knicks also happen to have about $15 million in cap space to get the deal done as well. Dieng has been averaging less than 20 minutes per game all season long, as he’s down the depth chart behind guys like Valanciunas and Clarke. Sending him to New York would free up some minutes for other players while giving Dieng guaranteed playing time with the Knicks in Robinson’s absence.

While plenty of rumors have been floating around surrounding this very deep Grizzlies team, there’s nothing concrete as of now but with the deadline quickly approaching, we could see a deal get done in the very near future as they may try to clear up the logjam and get a return on some of the guys who aren’t playing as much as they’d like.