Five players the Memphis Grizzlies should target at the NBA trade deadline

The Memphis Grizzlies may be a young team in terms of age, but their success over the past two seasons has put them in position to get a better idea of how the business side of the NBA works.

Dillon Brooks, the longest-tenured Grizzlies player, has watched most of his extension-eligible teammates get rewarded with new contracts while he appears set to test the free agency market this offseason. Danny Green, who has spent this season in a part-time role as an ESPN analyst, even had his name come up in trade talks right to his face while he was on ESPN earlier this season.

One look at the Memphis roster and it’s not hard to see which areas could use the most improvement at the deadline. Ja Morant and Tyus Jones form one of the best point guard rotations in the NBA, and the same can be said for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama at power forward. When healthy, Steven Adams’ impact is all over the Grizzlies, and Brandon Clarke just earned a contract extension before the season.

That leaves the wing rotation. Desmond Bane is having a career year, but the offensive inconsistency of Brooks and John Konchar combined with the recent struggles of Ziaire Williams leaves a lot to be desired.

If the Grizzlies want to acquire some of the best players on this list, they likely will need to move some salaries from the current roster. Green is on an expiring contract worth $10 million, Brooks' expiring contract is worth $11.4 million and Konchar's recent three-year extension will pay him more $6 million per season.

All player contract information is from spotrac.

Here are five names the Grizzlies could target to help shore up their roster at the trade deadline.

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O.G. Anunoby, Toronto Raptors

This is the big fish of the group, which means he’ll cost the most. O.G. Anunoby is a young three-and-d wing who has shot 37% in his career on 3-pointers while being a versatile defender. Anunoby’s career effective field goal percentage is seven percentage points higher than Brooks'. Adding another high-profiled shooter who can play defense would be a bonus for the starting lineup. Anunoby is in the second season of a four-year, $72 million deal that won't expire until 2025, so acquiring him would mean moving salaries as well as potentially adding draft compensation.

Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets

Eric Gordon has been in Houston since the team took Golden State to seven games in the 2018 Western Conference Finals. His shooting profile and ability to score off the dribble would make him arguably the Grizzlies' top offensive option off the bench. Gordon is in the third season of a four-year deal worth more than $75 million.

Alec Burks, Detroit Pistons

A veteran who has always been a scorer, Alec Burks is a certified scorer. He’s averaging 13.4 points this season in 22.4 minutes. Most importantly, he’s shooting 3s at better than 40% for the third consecutive season. Burks is in the second year of a three-year deal worth $30 million.

Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons

Saddiq Bey entered the NBA as a known shooter, but his overall efficiency hasn’t been there. At his best, he’s a player who can knock down shots off the bench and once scored 51 points in an NBA game. Since he's on a rookie deal, he's the most affordable option on this list. Bey is currently making a little under $3 million in the third year of his contract.

Malik Beasley, Utah Jazz

If the Grizzlies want a shooter who won't hesitate on any night, Malik Beasley might be their guy. Beasley has made more than three 3-pointers per game in the past three seasons. He’s a career 38% 3-point shooter who can provide an offensive spark off the bench. Beasley is in the third season of a four-year deal worth $60 million.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Players the Memphis Grizzlies could target at the NBA trade deadline