Grizzlies Potential Trade Destination For Wizards’ Bradley Beal?

Bradley Beal, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

The Memphis Grizzlies were one of the more surprising teams during the 2020-21 NBA season. They came out of virtually nowhere, finishing the season with a record of 38-34 and ninth in the Western Conference.

Normally, their season would have ended there. Still, with the implementation of the NBA Play-In Tournament, Memphis had a chance to continue their season, and they took full advantage of the opportunity.

The Grizzlies defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the first game before defeating the Golden State Warriors in the second. That landed them the No. 8 seed and a matchup with the Utah Jazz in the first round. They stole Game 1 in Salt Lake City before losing the next four, but it was an excellent season nonetheless.

If there was anything that was learned from the team’s unexpected run last season, it is that they need more offensive firepower. The Memphis Grizzlies get after it defensively, but it can be a grind scoring the ball for the team sometimes.

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Budding star Ja Morant carries a lot of the offense from the point guard position. Dillon Brooks is the team’s second-leading scorer but is a bit inefficient doing it. Players such as Kyle Anderson, Desmond Bane, and now Steven Adams will fill in the scoring behind them.

Adding a bonafide scorer to that bunch would take the team to the next level. Someone such as Bradley Beal would be an excellent target for Memphis. They were named a brand-new landing spot for Beal by Bleacher Report, and the fit makes sense. The Washington Wizards’ superstar is one of the best shooting guards in the NBA. His presence on the roster would make things easier for everyone on the offensive side of the ball.

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Bradley Beal has shown that he is capable of carrying an offense throughout his tenure with the Washington Wizards. In Memphis, he would provide a nice backcourt mate for Morant to help do that. Given his prowess off the ball, as Beal is a 37.7 career 3-point shooter, it is a pairing that would work.

The Memphis Grizzlies have spent this offseason collecting long-term assets for short-term hits. It is good business for a small market team, but a player like Morant likely wants help to carry the momentum over from his outstanding playoff debut. If he’d like them to go for it a little harder now, they have the pieces to get that done.

LATEST NBA NEWS: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Simmons, Siakam, Dragic, Lillard

Memphis could build a package around versatile big man Jaren Jackson Jr. Injuries have held him back. Still, he has legitimate two-way potential as a floor-spacing big man offensively and rim protector extraordinaire. He could be mix and matched with some lower-tier trade assets, or the team could offer higher-tier assets with Brooks as the centerpiece.

Bane, Brandon Clarke, Xavier Tillman, Ziaire Williams, and future first-round draft picks could all be on the table from Memphis. Laying out all their cards and trying to pry a superstar away via trade is the route a small-market team that struggles to land impact players in free agency has to take. Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards could be the one.

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