From 2010 to 2017, the Memphis Grizzlies were always known to be a playoff threat in the Western Conference, but they were never able to “get over the hump” and make it to the NBA Finals. They made it as far as the Western Conference Finals in 2013, but they got swept by the San Antonio Spurs that year. 

The Grizzlies went on after the 2016-17 season to miss the playoffs the next three seasons, but they have been rebuilding with a lot of young, talented players and they finally made it back to the playoffs for the first-time since 2017 this year. Memphis even won a game against the Utah Jazz in Utah, something not a lot of teams can say they did this year! 

With Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and a plethora of other young and talented players, the future is very bright for the Memphis Grizzlies, but where do they go from here as an organization?

Player development and building a team of the future through the draft has gotten them to the playoffs now way ahead of schedule, but they are still lacking the firepower and overall talent to be a threat in the Western Conference. 

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The New Orleans Pelicans have been a team that much like the Grizzlies, in the sense that they have been rebuilding and retooling to try and put a contending team on the court, but they have not seen the playoffs as much as Memphis. New Orleans’ most recent postseason appearance came in 2018, but they have only been to the playoffs twice since the 2011-12 season. 

With Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans have two All-Star building blocks, but both Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart being free agents this year could really screw things up for their young core. New Orleans is feeling pressure to “win now,” which is why they could potentially look to leverage Brandon Ingram this offseason. 

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It is definitely a long-shot to believe that the New Orleans Pelicans would be quick to give up on Ingram, but his value is probably as high as it will be right now and they could potentially get a lot in return from trading him. Could the Grizzlies be a team that shows interest in Ingram should he be available in trade talks? 

Let’s take a look at a hypothetical offseason trade package that would send Brandon Ingram to Memphis to pair up with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. to create a lethal, young trio in the Western Conference.