Following the recording, Jake Fischer reported the draft pick haul for Memphis.
"Those three first-rounders headed to the Grizzlies are the Lakers’ 2027 pick (top-four protected), either the Cavaliers’, Timberwolves’, or Jazz’s own 2027 pick (whichever is most favorable), and the Suns’ 2031 pick (unprotected), reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.”
The Lakers’ 2027 pick is unlikely to be of much value due to Luka Doncic’s presence. However, if the Lakers do want to swing a massive trade, getting that pick back could be valuable. It’d be four-dimensional chess, but it could have some sneaky value.
The best of the Cavaliers, Timberwolves, and Jazz’s 2027 first-round pick, at face value, doesn’t sound all that promising. The Jazz appear to be going for it, and the Cavaliers and Wolves are two playoff teams with relatively young rosters/stars. However, when you get three swipes at tragedy, your odds increase dramatically. It’s a solid pick, but not a great one.
The Suns’ 2031 unprotected first is the crown jewel of this return. The Suns have been surprisingly good this season, but 2031 is a long time away, and they’ll be without a premium draft pick, nor much financial flexibility, in the intermediate. The 2031 draft will come after Devin Booker’s age-34 season, and he isn’t even under contract for the 2030-31 season. This pick has a realistic potential to be a top-five pick, which makes it a golden trade chip, as this move just showed.
