If you were hoping for someone to tip over a domino and get the trade action going for the NBA’s draft week, you can thank the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans.
Multiple players and draft picks are exchanging hands, as the Grizzlies and Pelicans have agreed to a three-player and five-draft-pick deal that shakes up the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft while also generating a bunch of cap space for the Pelicans.
Sources confirmed to The Athletic that the Grizzlies will send Jonas Valanciunas, the 17th pick and the 51st pick in the 2021 draft to the Pelicans in exchange for Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, the 10th pick, the 40th pick and a top-10 protected 2022 first-round pick owed via the Los Angeles Lakers.
The trade can’t become official until Aug. 6, but what does it do to the draft and both Western Conference teams? Let’s break out our grading pens and dissect this deal:
Grizzlies receive Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, 10th pick, 40th pick, 2022 first-round pick (via Lakers)
Memphis just brought some more veteran leadership to its squad, improved its depth, added to its future treasure chest of first-round picks AND moved up in the draft to grab a player the Grizzlies are targeting. First, let’s break down the draft aspect of it. With the Grizzlies now selecting at No.
