Trying make a big leap in the Western Conference standings next season, the Memphis Grizzlies have had an active start to their offseason. First trading away Jonas Valancunias to the Pelicans in exchange for Steven Adams, and now they've acquired Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu for Eric Bledsoe.
This was a great trade for the Grizzlies to make because Bledsoe had no desire to play for them and they needed another guard and center. These moves also play into Memphis' continued plan to get as much help as possible for franchise superstar Ja Morant. With all this said, let's take a look at the three ways the Grizzlies vastly improved their roster after the Eric Bledsoe trade with the Clippers.
Rajon Rondo will help Ja Morant to develop with Grizzlies
With the Grizzlies entering the trade market aggressively during the 2021 NBA offseason, they've made the addition of another key veteran in Rajon Rondo. Rondo makes for an ideal backcourt mate to Ja Morant and can provide him with mentorship and veteran leadership throughout the entirety of the 2021-22 NBA season. This will be huge for Memphis, especially considering how much Morant's game elevated this past year that showcased his All-Star ceiling.
Hard to find a better partner-in-crime for Morant than a two-time NBA champion and an All-Star caliber point guard. As one of the best floor general's the game's ever seen, Rondo will undoubtedly make everyone around him better and give the Grizzlies an electric starting lineup that will climbs the ranks of the Western Conference and make for a potential upset threat in the playoffs. With the addition of Rondo, the Grizzles vastly improve their backcourt and give Ja Morant the perfect veteran to complement his game.
Grizzlies gained frontcourt depth by trading Eric Bledsoe
Ridding themselves of Eric Bledsoe allowed the Grizzlies to gain a quality back-up center in Daniel Oturu. This was a solid addition for them because after adding Steven Adams as their new starting center, they were still lacking a reliable back-up. Adding Oturu also gives the Grizzlies a young center who can grow and develop on a playoff contender that will look to contend for a title sometime in the near future.
Granted he didn't play a ton minutes last season and doesn't have mind blowing stats, but he's got decent size and length and the Grizzlies hard-nosed defensive style can transform him into a rebounding and blocking machine in due time. This will also give Adams some relief when he needs a breather throughout the season.
Grizzlies now have a balanced starting lineup
After successfully pulling off a couple of solid trades, the Grizzlies currently bode a starting five of Ja Morant, Rajon Rondo, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Steven Adams. This is a line-up that could definitely do some damage come playoff time next season and increase their chances of a surprise postseason run.
With this perfectly balanced line-up of youth, athleticism, and savvy veteran play, Memphis will definitely be a tough out for whoever they come across during the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. This is of course assuming that they survive the play-in tournament, but with this line-up at their disposal it's hard to imagine them missing out on the postseason.
Especially now that Morant will be learning the ropes from playoff Rondo and Adams will form one of the best frontcourts in the league with Jackson Jr. and Brooks. Come next year's playoff race, teams should definitely watch out for this up-and-coming Memphis Grizzlies squad because they are not to be taken lightly.
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