Trending News|January 13, 2015 11:01 EST
Memphis Grizzlies NBA Trade News 2015: Offensive Boost in Jeff Green
While both fans and pundits are wondering whether the Cleveland Cavaliers' recent string of roster moves are born out of panic, the Memphis Grizzlies may have just landed a player that could get them over the hump in the hypercompetitive Western Conference.
Yahoo Sports! reported that the Boston Celtics, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Grizzlies have agreed to a three-team trade that puts explosive swingman Jeff Green in Memphis.
This shuffle of players also finds the Grizzlies' Tayshaun Prince, the Pelicans' Austin Rivers, along with a future first round pick, going to Boston, while the Grizzlies' Quincy Poindexter will be moving to New Orleans.
Green fills the Grizzlies' need for a secondary perimeter creator"”a role this Memphis team has been lacking for years.
Green comes in with season averages of 17.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. While his numbers don't blow you away, Green's explosiveness and athleticism has a chance to blossom on a team that already has Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.
The Grizzlies have been perennial Western Conference contenders with Conley virtually being the lone creator from the perimeter. Now, with Gasol turning in the best season of his career along with Courtney Lee's excellent two-way play at shooting guard, Green can come in at small forward and feed off an established system that presently sits at third in the West.
Talks of the trade between the Celtics and the Grizzlies have been rumbling for the past few days, and with New Orleans filling the role of a third team, the deal is now all but official.
League sources say that the teams will have a trade call with the league on Monday to make the deal official.
Green is in the final two years of his contract. He'll be making $9.2 million this season, and holds a player option for the same amount in 2015-2016.