Giannis Antetokounmpo recently made headlines as it was reported that he is open to potentially playing for a different team next season. This has predictably created numerous trade scenarios involving the superstar moving elsewhere. Giannis is an elite franchise cornerstone in his prime at age 30. He will attract tremendous interest from several organizations across the league looking to move the needle and turn themselves into legitimate championship contenders. One team that may be looking to make that move is the Memphis Grizzlies. Let’s dive into why the Grizzlies should pursue Giannis.

Why the Grizzlies Should Go All In for Giannis Antetokounmpo
A Franchise at a Crossroads

The Grizzlies had a rough end to their season after spending most of the regular season in the top three of the Western Conference. However, they plummeted down to the No. 8 seed after a poor stretch in the final couple of months and were ultimately swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Now led by new head coach Tuomas Iisalo, the Grizzlies are desperate to make a deep playoff run—something they’ve been unable to accomplish during the Ja Morant era in Memphis. The deepest they’ve gone is the second round of the playoffs. Acquiring a player of Giannis’ caliber significantly increases their chances of finally breaking through.

Oct 31, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles as Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (7) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Potential Trade Packages and Cap Considerations

For any realistic trade, the deal would likely involve moving at least one member of the Grizzlies’ “big three.” The player who makes the most sense to include is Jaren Jackson Jr., who plays a similar position to Giannis and is also up for an extension this summer. His current contract takes up a significant portion of the cap.

Jackson Jr. and picks alone likely won’t be enough, as the Grizzlies would need to include more players to match Giannis’ projected salary, which sits around $54 million. One floated trade idea is a package including Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and three first-round picks. This move would also open up cap space for the Grizzlies to continue building the roster around Giannis.

Another potential avenue would be for the Grizzlies’ front office to decide that Ja Morant is expendable. In that scenario, Morant could be moved alongside Jackson Jr., allowing the Grizzlies to keep some of the draft capital they would otherwise have to include if Bane were in the deal instead. This route would also free up more cap space.

The motivation for moving Morant over Bane comes down to Morant’s injury history and his lack of shooting ability, especially considering that Giannis is not a great shooter either. Building around Giannis would require surrounding him with consistent shooting threats. As a result, Bane would be an ideal fit.

Alternative Options Within the Roster

There’s also a possibility that the Grizzlies could retain two of their “big three”—Morant, Jackson Jr., and Bane—by instead packaging together multiple young players with upside. Players like Jaylen Wells, Zach Edey, GG Jackson, and others could serve as valuable trade pieces. The Grizzlies have a loaded roster of both win-now and young players. As a result, they have multiple ways to approach a potential Giannis deal. Ultimately, it comes down to how Memphis wants to construct the roster around Giannis and what the Bucks value most in a trade package.

The Time to Strike Is Now

If Giannis becomes aggressive in seeking a new destination, the Grizzlies will face stiff competition. However, the time is now for Memphis to shed the label of “potential contender” and become a legitimate title threat.

The Grizzlies have lingered in the tier of “could-be contenders” for too long during Morant’s tenure. They’ve been passed up by younger teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves. This is despite those teams’ respective cores being together for far less time than Memphis.

The Grizzlies had their first real breakthrough in the 2021–22 season when they reached the second round. Since then, the Thunder and Timberwolves have made more significant strides, leaving Memphis behind. Unless the Grizzlies act aggressively to close the gap, that gap will only continue to grow. Trading for a generational player like Giannis could be the bold move that pushes them into the upper echelon of NBA contenders. Overall, Giannis is a high-end and ideal trade target for the Grizzlies this summer.

 

Featured image: © Michael McLoone-Imagn Images