This is a 5-team trade that completes the Memphis roster, gives Toronto a faster way to rebuild, the Nets an alternative to remaining mediocre for years, Cavs a way to fix their frontcourt issues and not lose Mitchell for free and New York their homegrown star. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Reasoning for the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis recieve: Jarrett Allen, Cameron Johnson
Memphis give up: Luke Kennard, Steven Adams, Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, John Konchar, 2024 MEM, 2026 MEM, 1 SRP
Why they do this: The Grizzlies have one of the worst records in the league right now at 11-22. While things have looked a lot better with Ja's return, there's still no guarantee that they'd make the playoffs in a very deep Western Conference. On the flip side, the 2024 FRP is very valuable and worst-case scenario, falls in the 10-15 range. This trade lets them keep a lot of their draft equity for future trades instead of comitting everything for one player, and gives them a nice, young core to work around with their whole lineup 27 and under. They'd be a contender for years to come.
The Grizzlies Depth Chart
PG: Ja Morant │ Marcus Smart
SG: Desmond Bane │ Vince Williams Jr
SF: Cameron Johnson │ Brandon Clarke (when he returns)
PF: Jaren Jackson Jr │ Santi Aldama
C: Jarrett Allen │ Xavier Tillman
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Reasoning for the Toronto Raptors
Toronto recieve: Quentin Grimes, Jericho Sims, Evan Fournier, Ty Jerome, 2024 DAL, 2027 NYK
Toronto give up: Pascal Siakam
Moves after this: Waive Fournier, Jerome, Temple
Why they do this: After the OG trade, a Siakam trade seemed like the next obvious move. However, acquiring players like IQ and RJ over picks showed that Raptors weren't too interested in a long-term rebuild, and here they get another young NY talent in Grimes, as well as a FRP this year to compensate for the one they lost. The Raptors are also dangerously close to the tax and even took in salary in the OG trade, and will have to pay IQ a lot of money this season. Expiring contracts like Fournier and trades like this which saves them a lot of money is what they need.
The Raptors Depth Chart
PG: Immanuel Quickley │ Dennis Schroder
SG: Quentin Grimes │ Luke Kennard
SF: RJ Barrett │ Gradey Dick
PF: Scottie Barnes (he'll still play point) │ Jalen McDaniels
C: Jakob Poeltl │ Jericho Sims
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Reasoning for the Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn recieve: Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, Luke Kennard, Malachi Flynn, Ricky Rubio, Steven Adams, 2024 MEM, 2024 NYK, 2025 NYK, 2025 MIL, 2026 MEM, 3 SRPs
Brooklyn give up: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson
Moves after this: Trade Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale for Jaden Hardy, Richaun Holmes, Maxi Kleber and 2027 DAL. Waive Giles, Flynn, Rubio, Holmes, Adams
Why they do this: The Nets have no use being mediocre. They'll still lose in the playin, and Houston gets top picks regardless. With this move (going all-in on tanking), they still give Houston top picks but they're also able to provide Cam, Sharpe and Claxton more touches, and also recieve 5 (!!) FRPs in the next 3 years, which allows them to rebuild faster through the draft. Most importantly, all the contracts expire within the next 2 years, and so does Simmons's. Brooklyn's a big market, and an attractive UFA destination and with all these expiring contracts, will have enough for two max ones. That, alongside extremely valuable picks post 2025, young talents from this trade and 7 draft picks in the next 3 years mean that they'd have a young, cheap core ready to contend alongside any free agents they're able to attract. In conclusion, it would be a much shorter rebuild than anticipated.
The Nets Depth Chart
PG: Jaden Hardy │ Spencer Dinwiddie
SG: Cam Thomas │ Lonnie Walker IV
SF: Gary Trent Jr │ Jake LaRavia
PF: Ziaire Williams │ Trendon Watford
C: Nicolas Claxton │ Day'Ron Sharpe
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Reasoning for the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland recieve: Pascal Siakam, Mikal Bridges, John Konchar
Cleveland give up: Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, 2 SRPs
Why they do this: Donovan Mitchell was always destined to go to New York. He effectively only has two years left on his deal, and leaving in free agency to go to the Big Apple seems like the likely outcome. However, the Cavs trading him now gives them all the leverage. They get to kill two birds with one stone here too, as effectively swapping Allen for Siakam is not only a steal value-wise, but also solves a lot of their frontcourt problems - Siakam can shoot (somewhat), and is also great defensively, as well as being a big body that Mobley needs around him. Bridges also will be an elite 3rd option and can be the POA defender, giving the Cavs a whole new identity. A roster shakeup might be exactly what this team needs.
The Cavs Depth Chart
PG: Darius Garland │ Caris LeVert
SG: Max Strus │ John Konchar
SF: Mikal Bridges │ Isaac Okoro
PF: Pascal Siakam │ Dean Wade
C: Evan Mobley │ Tristan Thompson
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Reasoning for the New York Knicks
New York recieve: Donovan Mitchell
New York give up: Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Jericho Sims, Malachi Flynn, 2024 NYK, 2024 DAL, 2025 NYK, 2025 DAL, 2027 NYK
Moves after this: Sign Wenyen Gabriel and Jaylen Nowell - 1-year minimums for depth purposes
Why they do this: It's about time. This was similar to the package Utah wanted, but New York bailed when they demanded Grimes. They've seen how he's turned out - not too bad but an expendable role player - and now finally cashes in on all of their picks for the homegrown star who's been linked to them for ages. The Brunson-Mitchell backcourt isn't as bad as people think: Mitchell's become a lot better on defence this season and is second in the league in steals and is +0.8 in defensive estimated +/-, which is 80th percentile in the league. He's also 6'3 with a 6'10 wingspan. All these attributes indicate a good defender, and only Brunson would need to be hidden on defence. They already have their POA defender in OG. All this also doesn't mention just how explosive that offense would be. NY would finally be a contender again.
The Knicks Depth Chart
PG: Jalen Brunson │ Miles McBride
SG: Donovan Mitchell │ Donte DiVincenzo
SF: OG Anunoby │ Josh Hart
PF: Julius Randle │ Precious Achiuwa
C: Mitchell Robinson (when he returns) │ Isaiah Hartenstein
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Anything that I could have done better? Let me know in the comments.