Grizzlies Miss Opportunity By Staying Quiet At Trade Deadline

The Memphis Grizzlies made no significant moves at the NBA trade deadline. They chose to maintain their core while aiming to compete with the top teams in the Western Conference.

Currently the second seed in the West, the Grizzlies actively pursued moves to strengthen their chances of a deep playoff run or even a championship. Memphis eyed multiple players, including Dorian Finney-Smith and Cameron Johnson. They also reportedly had exploratory talks with the Miami Heat regarding Jimmy Butler during that long-drawn-out saga.

Memphis made only two minor moves at the deadline. The Grizzlies traded Marcus Smart and a first-round pick to the Washington Wizards and shipped Jake LaRavia to the Sacramento Kings. This move was made entirely for cap space. The team is looking to prepare for a potential extension for Jaren Jackson Jr.

However, these moves don’t help the Grizzlies this season—they arguably made them slightly worse. Although Smart missed long stretches due to injury, he provided invaluable leadership. He was the only player on the roster with NBA Finals experience and provided solid perimeter defense. Losing that presence left many fans underwhelmed, as they had hoped for an impact trade that could boost their title chances this season.

While the front office’s focus on the future is understandable, fans see the situation differently. This is a fanbase hungry for success. The current Grizzlies group has been on the verge of contention for years but has lacked that extra X-factor to take them over the top. Many believed this trade deadline presented an opportunity to acquire that missing piece. Finney-Smith and Johnson, for example, both play solid defense and shoot at a high level, which could have helped Memphis. However, the Grizzlies failed to strike a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, allowing Finney-Smith to land with the Los Angeles Lakers while Johnson remained in Brooklyn.

From a short-term perspective, Memphis’ front office made a mistake by not aggressively pursuing one of the available stars. Even acquiring a player like Johnson would have been valuable. Now, the Grizzlies find themselves in the same position they have been in for multiple seasons: one tier below the league’s true championship contenders. Despite their strong roster and potential, they still haven’t been able to break through to the next level.

Saturday’s game reminded Memphis that despite climbing to the top of the West, they still have ground to cover. The Grizzlies are not yet on the same level as teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the defending champion Boston Celtics. They currently sit eight games behind Oklahoma City, a gap that reflects the Thunder’s superior level of play.

Oklahoma City comfortably defeated the Grizzlies on February 8. When a team can walk into an opponent’s building and cruise to victory in a big-stage game, it’s a bad sign for the home team. That’s exactly what happened to the Grizzlies. They are now stuck in a position where they are the best of the non-contending teams in the NBA. Unfortunately for Memphis, they failed to change that at the trade deadline.