A Donovan Mitchell trade could help the Memphis Grizzlies – Commercial Appeal
The Kevin Durant sweepstakes were fun while they lasted.
With Durant and the Brooklyn Nets working out their differences, Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell’s future may now be the NBA’s biggest unknown.
Reports have indicated the New York Knicks and Jazz have discussed a Mitchell trade. If Utah is expecting anything close to its return from the Rudy Gobert trade — five players and five first-round draft picks — then there’s no surprise that a deal isn’t done.
If a deal is made, the Memphis Grizzlies should be a team to watch. Not for Mitchell, but the potential ripple effects in Utah.
Trading Mitchell, a three-time All-Star, would mean the Jazz would enter a full rebuild. In that case, other veterans on the roster could be up for grabs. Utah’s roster is filled with NBA veterans with playoff experience.
Here are three Jazz players who could help the Grizzlies:
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Malik Beasley, shooting guard
Grizzlies fans know Beasley all too well after last season’s playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He made four 3-pointers in the Timberwolves’ upset win in Game 1 at FedExForum. Beasley was traded to the Jazz as part of the Gobert package that sent five Timberwolves players to Utah.
After trading De’Anthony Melton, the Grizzlies created a hole at shooting guard. John Konchar was recently signed to a contract extension and is expected to fill that gap, but Beasley provides a more explosive scoring option. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard has averaged double figures his last four seasons and is a career 38.6% 3-point shooter. Beasley has two years and more than $30 million left on his current contract, which means the Grizzlies would need to send some salary back to acquire him.
Bojan Bogdanovic, small forward
Bojan Bogdanovic is entering the last year of a four-year $73 million deal. His ability to play within the flow of an offense could make him an intriguing fit alongside Ja Morant and Desmond Bane. Like Bane, he doesn’t need the ball for long stretches to be a dynamic scorer. The Grizzlies like versatile wings, and even though Bogdanovic isn’t the quickest on his feet, the 6-7 forward can play the three and four positions. He averaged 18.1 points last season and has shot 39.2% on 3-pointers in his career.
Rudy Gay, power forward
This may not be the former Grizzlies player you expected on this list, but it’s the one who makes the most sense. With Jaren Jackson Jr. out, the Grizzlies have a hole in their frontcourt. Rudy Gay isn’t the same high-flying athlete that electrified FedExForum 10 years ago, but he’s settled into a steady role as a small-ball power forward. Gay is still a respectable 3-point shooter after making 34.5% last season. He averaged 8.1 points in Utah last season. That was his first career season averaging single digit points. Gay is a low-cost option who could help rookies Jake LaRavia and David Roddy come along while also bridging the gap to Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s return.
Contact Damichael Cole at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com and on Twitter @damichaelc