The Memphis Grizzles are currently fighting for the top overall seed in the Western Conference. However, with Golden State looking near unbeatable, and both Dallas and Houston making huge moves over the last two weeks, the Grizzles find themselves at a crossroads.
The team will get Zach Randolph back in the next week or two, and that will be a huge boost to the teams front court, but it’s their depth at the wing position that is proving to be problematic.
Should the Grizzles make a trade for a perimeter scoring option?
According to ESPN.com the team is doing just that, as they have expressed interest in both Miami Heat forward Luol Deng and Boston Celtics swingman Jeff Green.
The Grizzles thought they had the answer to their lack of depth when they signed 37-year old swingman Vince Carter over the offseason. During the 2013-14 season Carter averaged 11.9 points for the Dallas Mavericks, but his first year in Memphis has been far less successful as he only puts up 6.5 points per contest.
However, it’s not just Carter that fails to find the bottom of the net. Nobody on the Grizzles bench averages over eight points a game.That’s where Green or Deng would fit in with this team. The addition of one of the two would greatly increase the team’s scoring punch. Green averages 17.6 points on the season and Deng puts up 14.3 a night.
A move to obtain either of the two would likely send defensive juggernaut Tony Allen or shooting specialist Courtney Lee to the bench, roles which would add punch to a lackluster second unit. Deng or Green would also take pressure off Vince Carter and could give the NBA veteran some much needed rest.
It’s a solid move for a Grizzles team that needs to make some headway before the trade deadline. With the addition of a quality scorer, and the return of Zach Randolph, the Memphis Grizzles could once again be the top seed in the Western Conference.