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Unpacking Memphis Grizzlies' NBA trade deadline deals with analysis, grades

The Memphis Grizzlies are officially done with their busiest trade deadline in five seasons under general manager and president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman.

Steven Adams, Xavier Tillman Sr. and David Roddy were all involved in separate trades. The Grizzlies received guard Victor Oladipo, wing Lamar Stevens, center Chimezie Metu, forward Yuta Watanabe and draft compensation as a result of the deals.

Suddenly, a team that has prided itself on continuity will look much different for the foreseeable future. Injuries and recent draft misses led to Memphis needing to be active at the deadline, and now the Grizzlies have a clearer path forward on building the roster around their core players.

Here is a breakdown on each Grizzlies trade.

Steven Adams traded to the Rockets

Trading Adams for Oladipo's expiring contract and two 2024 second-round picks gave Memphis much-needed roster flexibility for offseason moves and attempting to stay below the luxury tax's first apron. Teams who spend more than $7 million above the luxury tax are assigned to the first apron, which limits a team's ability to make roster-building moves.

Memphis waived Oladipo to clear space for Metu and Watanabe, according to the Athletic.

Attempting to lower the tax bill makes sense, but Adams' impact on the Grizzlies was a tough price to pay. Before the 6-foot-11 center's knee injury in January 2023, the Grizzlies were battling the Denver Nuggets for the No. 1 seed, and they were the NBA's best rebounding team. Rebounding has went from a strength the past two seasons to a weakness. Memphis is ranked 22nd in offensive rebounding after being top five in each of the past two seasons.

Luke Kennard has a $14.7 million team option after this season. He has shot the ball great for the Grizzlies, but a strong argument can be that Adams has been the more impactful of the two players. Memphis will now need to find an option this offseason to restore its rebounding.

Grade: C

Xavier Tillman Sr. traded to Boston Celtics

Tillman didn't receive a new contract before the season like many of his extension-eligible teammates in recent years. That made this season a valuable one for Tillman, but injuries and the team's current standing have played a role in his value diminishing. With Tillman unlikely to be a future piece in Memphis, the Grizzlies did right to add any assets they could before he hits free agency.

Along with acquiring Stevens, the Grizzlies received 2027 and 2030 second-round picks. The 6-6 Stevens may not have a long-term future in Memphis, and it's a long time from 2027, but the added draft capital can also come into play for future Grizzlies trades.

Grade: A

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David Roddy to Suns, Yuta Watanabe Grizzlies reunion

The Grizzlies created a logjam at forward by selecting Ziaire Williams in the 2021 NBA Draft and then adding Roddy and Jake LaRavia in the first round in 2022. With the emergence of Vince Williams Jr. and the inconsistencies of the aforementioned three players, it became clear that Memphis had to make a move.

Roddy, who was the only Grizzlies player on the 15-man roster to be active for every game this season, was traded for Watanabe and a second-round pick swap. Roddy was drafted in part to help the Grizzlies as a shooter, but he made just 30.4% of his 3-pointers since joining Memphis. In the 6-9 Watanabe, Memphis gets a career 37.7% 3-point shooter who has made just 32% of his 3-pointers so far this season. Watanabe is on a minimum contract, so he's another player the Grizzlies could part ways with later if he doesn't fit into next season's plans. Metu is also on an expiring deal. The 6-9 Metu is a mobile athlete capable of playing power forward and center while knocking down 15 3-pointers this season.

Grade: B+

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies' NBA trade deadline recap with analysis, grades