Trade no. 5
In this massive trade idea, the Miami Heat would send a plethora of assets to the Memphis Grizzlies for all 3 of their trade block players in Conley, Gasol, and Parsons.
While this trade would drastically change both organizations, somehow I think both rosters would fit better.
Starting with the Grizzlies, they get out of $80+ million over the next season in Conley, Gasol, and Parsons. More importantly, shedding Parsons would put a smile on their front office’s face, especially given that Jaren would have the chance to thrive in Memphis.
They get back solid talent to pair next to their 19-year-old with Richardson and Whiteside being immediate impacts on this team and there is a chance that the savvy backcourt of Dragic and Johnson could help lead the Grizzlies to a playoff record next season. Not to mention, the potential of Dragic opting out this summer would be huge for the Grizzlies cap, as previously mentioned.
Albeit, like all of these 5 trade ideas, I can not see Memphis not countering Miami for their unprotected 2019 pick instead of 2023, so that is something to look out for.
In conclusion, I believe that a deal for Mike Conley that keeps Dragic makes a lot of sense for a Heat team that is looking to be a top-five contender in the East over the next few years. And the first trade idea that swaps Gasol and Parsons for Whiteside, Waiters, and Ellington is my next favorite move to get Miami as a playoff contender in the foreseeable future.
Ultimately, time will tell for the Memphis stars, as they may be in a new jersey in only a few weeks. And luckily for the Grizzlies, time is a limited resource for Pat Riley, as he is looking to make moves as soon as possible.