Trade Talk

As reported in today's Commercial Appeal, Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace is actively pursuing a trade for a scoring spark off the bench. Wallace is picky in his interests, though. He is only after a player that a) is in the final year of his contract, b) "will provide offensive firepower," and c) is willing to come off the bench.

What can the Grizz offer to grab that sort of player? First, Memphis is willing to offer one of its lesser-used players, mainly center Stephen Hunter or guard Marcus Williams. Second, Wallace is using two of the Grizzlies' 2010 late-first-round draft picks (the picks acquired from Denver and Los Angeles) as trade bait. The Grizzlies have already tried this strategy with Portland's Travis Outlaw and New York's Nate Robinson, but both trades fizzled. With the February 18 trade deadline looming, Wallace has made the trade a top priority as the Grizzlies try to put together a playoff run.

That said, I have come up with a list of 10 players the Grizzlies should pursue that would meet Wallace's checklist. This list only consists of guards, and that is simply because the Grizzlies already have a deep frontcourt (9 of the 13 players are either forwards or centers) and the insertion of a big man would hurt the maturation of rookie forwards Hasheem Thabeet and DeMarre Carroll. Without further ado, here are my suggestions (in no particular order):

1. JJ Redick, SG, Orlando Magic. Redick is averaging 9 points for the Magic this year while playing just 22 minutes. Additionally, he is shooting 45% from the floor, 43% from downtown (10th in the NBA), and 79% from the free throw line. Redick would be a great fit for the Grizz because he is unselfish and is a phenomenal shooter. He would be a great spell for OJ or Rudy and would mesh well with the Grizzlies' other backup guard, Sam Young.

2. Luther Head, SG, Indiana Pacers. Head is averaging just under 9 points per game this season, but has shown that he has the talent to produce more than that. After playing sparingly for the Pacers early in the season, he has taken on a greater role in the offense as of late due to the absence of All-Star SF Danny Granger. In his last 6 games, he has averaged 17.8 points and shot 50% from the field. Against the Grizzlies on December 30, he exploded for 30 points and 7 rebounds. Like Redick, he would mesh well with the Grizzlies' established lineup.

3. CJ Watson, PG, Golden State Warriors. Watson is averaging 9 points and 2.5 assists while shooting a red- hot 48.3% (8th best among NBA PGs). He has both started and come off the bench for the Warriors this season, which would bring valuable experience to the Grizz locker room. He could be just as effective at the point as Conley or Tinsley and with his 3-point shooting (39%), he could even be effective at the shooting guard spot.

4. Ronnie Brewer, SG, Utah Jazz. Although horrendous from beyond the arc (24%), Brewer makes up for it by lighting it up from inside the arc (52% from 2-point range.) His 50% FG is tops in the NBA among shooting guards. However, he is a horrid free throw shooter (61%). Although his resume has its ups and downs, Brewer would be a great fit for the Grizzlies for two reasons. First, he averages 2.3 assists per game (17th among NBA SGs) and constantly looks to feed teammates the rock. Second, he played his college ball at Arkansas and would be an attractive local draw.

5. Anthony Morrow, SG, Golden State Warriors. Morrow has averaged 12 points as a starter/6th man for the Warriors this season while averaging 48% from the field (3rd among SGs), 44 % from downtown (2nd among SGs), and 88% from the charity stripe. He has also showcased his explosiveness, scoring 20+ points six times. He is an exceptional ball handler, averaging only 2 turnovers per 48 minutes. That, coupled with his shooting ability, would be a major asset for the Grizzlies in close games.

6. Willie Green, SG, Philadeplhia 76ers. Green is a crafty veteran who has had to share time with a petulant Allen Iverson this season. He had a phenomenal December, averaging 11.3 points, 30 minutes, 49.5% FG (4th in the NBA for SG's who played 10+ games), 46% 3-point, and 83% FT before spraining his left ankle. Although obtaining him wouldn't be cheap (almost $3,700,000 salary in 2010), he would bring loads of experience to a young team. His 201 career starts is bested by only three Grizzlies (Randolph, Tinsley, and Gay).

7. Rasual Butler, SG, Los Angeles Clippers. Like Green, Butler would bring 5+ years of NBA experience to the youthful Grizzlies. Although his shooting percentages are not particularly mind-blowing, one stat in particular stands out. Among NBA shooting guards, his 1.3 turnovers per 48 minutes ranks first. Again like Green, he doesn't come cheap (a $3,945,000 salary in 2010), but would be a great addition to the Griz den.

8. Devin Brown, SG, New Orleans Hornets. One of New Orleans' two options at shooting guard, Brown has averaged just under 11 points this season. After a slow start, he has put up 14.7 points and shot 50% from 3-point range in his last nine games. Additionally, Brown has gained a reputation as "a tough kid and hard-nosed defender," said T-Wolves President David Kahn, whose team tried unsuccessfully to trade for Brown last week. Brown would bring great 3-point shooting, defensive prowess, and experience to Memphis.

9. Jordan Farmar, PG, Los Angeles Lakers. Over the past three years, Farmar has developed into one of the NBA's better role players while going to two Finals with the Lakers. His experience with an elite team would be an asset for a team like the Grizzlies, who are seeking their first playoff appearance since 2005-2006. His 2.1 assist- to-turnover ratio is good but not great. He would be a good fit with Conley and Tinsley and would take some pressure off of them during games.

10. Roger Mason, SG, San Antonio Spurs. Although Mason is averaging just under 8 points per game this season, he has become lost in San Antonio's shuffle. He is the third shooting guard on the depth chart (behind Keith Bogans and Manu Ginobili) despite having the best FG% of his career (45%). Additionally, his 2.2 assists- per-game are also a career high. A move to Memphis would breathe new life into his career.

There you have it, Chris Wallace (if you're reading). I agree with your trade aspirations since an injury to one of our starters would likely destroy the chemistry we've developed, and a bench player with some offensive spark would be a nice insurance policy. I'm interested to see what happens with the Grizzlies through this trade and hopefully we will emerge a stronger team heading into the second half of the season.

Owen