The latest move in the Western Conference arms race involves the Memphis Grizzlies, who, with an aging (and injured) Zach Randolph and a soon-to-be-30-years-old Marc Gasol, are in win-now mode. There was talk earlier this week that the Grizz would make a play for either Luol Deng or Jeff Green, and after hitting a road block with Miami, it appears Green is leaving Boston for the Grindhouse.
ESPN sources say Jeff Green is essentially a member of the Grizzlies now. Teams have agreed to the deal and hope to complete it tonight
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 9, 2015
When the Grizzlies couldn’t make any headway on Luol Deng pursuit, they zeroed in on Green over the last 48 hours and sold Boston on deal
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 9, 2015
This is a solid move on the part of the Grizzlies, as they only sent a washed-up Tayshaun Prince and a first round pick to Boston (more on that in a second), and get an athletic 3/4 hybrid role player in return. Green, who can be a frustrating offensive player at times, won’t have to carry nearly as much of the load in Memphis, as he’s surrounded by plenty of shooters and the aforementioned Z-Bo and Gasol. Also, the Grizzlies didn’t have to part ways with Kosta Koufos, who many speculated would be involved in any Memphis dealings.
Meanwhile, Boston made its latest move in Tank-a-Palooza 2015 (and beyond) by absorbing Prince, while also securing a first round pick — to go along with…wait for it…another first round pick received in a separate trade Friday that sent Brandon Wright to Phoenix. Are you confused yet? We thought so. Here’s a helpful chart that sorts out the Celtics’ draft future:
With Wright-to-Phoenix trade, here’s how updated C’s draft picks list looks (and add a future 1st for Green deal): pic.twitter.com/pRnQJwBL2s
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) January 9, 2015
In a division featuring the 5-win Knicks and 5-win Sixers, it appears the Celtics are no slouch in the tanking department either. As for the Western Conference, to quote that dude on the other end of the phone with Liam Neeson in Taken: “good luck”.
[ESPN, photo: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images]
