Boston Celtics Rumors: 3 potential Terry Rozier trades that work
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies get: Terry Rozier, Jabari Bird
Boston Celtics get: Justin Holiday, 2019 2nd round pick
This one probably can’t happen because of the salaries. Throwing Jabari Bird in here is the only way to make it work cleanly, but trading a player in the sort of predicament he’s in would bring up weird ethical and legal questions that neither team wants to deal with. But if the teams did decide to go work through that, this one could actually be very nice for both sides.
The Memphis Grizzlies are probably going to have to rebuild. This season had a “let’s run it back one last time” sort of vibe, and it’s not working. They’d be wise to try to move Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, however painful that would be.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
WIth how tough Memphis’s market is, they’d definitely try to avoid a long rebuild. One way to do that? Add a point guard with breakout capability who can jump in and help out a lot quicker than somebody they draft this summer. Rozier can play off ball if the Grizzlies decide to keep Conley and just trade Gasol, or be the point guard of the future they pair with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Kyle Anderson.
For Boston…I mean, okay, let’s really get into what this team’s priorities are. They’re not going to trade for someone that’s a part of the long-term future, in all likelihood – their core is pretty much set, right? Unless they do something dramatic, which would be a surprise, whoever they get in a trade for Rozier probably isn’t sticking around for too long.
So, how they get value is getting someone who helps now (the 2nd round pick is also nice, and the Grizzlies have a couple this year alone that could wind up being pretty high – that could be the gem of the deal). Remember, this team is still underwhelming. If they lose in the second round, this season looks like a failure. If they lose in the first (they’re the fifth seed – this is a real possibility), then yikes.
Trading Rozier might be addition by subtraction anyway, but Justin Holiday could be an impact player for Boston. He’s a rangy wing defender who has been a consistent (if not dazzling) three-point shooter for years. It’d be nice to have a veteran like him as a 4th option on the wing (in this scenario, Marcus Smart will probably have to be playing more point guard). That’s a luxury, but if you’re a team trying to get to the Finals, maybe that’s the kind of luxury you need to pursue.