JULY 11: The Grizzlies and Suns have officially announced the trade (Twitter links).
JULY 6: The Grizzlies are trading three second-round picks to the Suns for Isaiah Todd and first-round pick swap rights in 2024 and 2030, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
The second-rounders are a 2025 pick originally owned by the Pelicans, as well as Memphis’ own 2028 and 2029 picks.
The first-round pick swaps will involve the less favorable of the Suns and Wizards‘ picks, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter link). Phoenix gave Washington the right to swap first-rounders in those years as part of the Bradley Beal blockbuster. Todd was also included in the Beal trade, so he’s been involved in two deals so far this summer.
Todd, an early second-round pick in 2021, only appeared in six games for the Wizards last season and wasn’t in the Suns’ plans going forward. He’s owed a guaranteed $1.84MM salary for the 2023/24 season, with a $1.99MM team option for ’24/25.
The trade will allow the Suns to move off Todd’s guaranteed salary and get down to 15 players on standard contracts without requiring the team to waive him and take the luxury-tax hit that would come from adding a replacement. Phoenix will also acquire some future second-rounders after dealing six away to Washington in the Beal trade, putting the team in position to use one or more of those picks as part of a future deal.
While it’s unclear whether or not Todd will still be on their roster by the start of the regular season, the Grizzlies are essentially betting on their future in the short and long term by giving themselves an opportunity to move up in the first round next June, as well as in 2030.
It’s possible that the Suns could be opening a roster spot for Bol Bol if that’s part of their plan.
Why would Memphis do this though? We’ve seen WAY more useful players traded for less this offseason, has Todd made an NBA shot in his 2 seasons? What a dumb trade to give a rival ammo to make a helpful trade
I guess this is not about getting Todd, but about giving up 3 nd rounders and cash/salary for 2 first round pick swaps.
Good call!
Thj Holmes trade for ayton incoming
Why would the suns do that. That’s a terrible trade for them. Ayton is better then Holmes and thj wouldn’t get that many minutes on this roster
would not work anyway, recently traded rule
all those assets to only save $1.5 million?
YeahbI don’t understand this trade at all on the surface.
It’s pretty fascinating from the Suns’ perspective. If they’re good enough in 2024 and 2030, they might’ve just gotten three second-round picks and dumped an unwanted salary for literally nothing.
And if they fall off a cliff in 2030, well, the Wizards had a pick swap anyway, so the downside might be minimal. (The only real nightmare scenario is if the Suns and Wizards both get high lottery picks in 2030 while the Grizzlies are in the 20s or something).
You could add this to the article itself also?
It’s a gamble on both sides indeed. Memphis is gambling they’ll be good in 2024,2028,2029 and 2030. I dont see the pick swap having much value in 2024, suns pick wont be a lottery pick, but 2030 might be a whole other story.
No protections on the 2nd rounders? Then it’s much assets for Memphis but it could still be jackpot in 2030.
Isaiah Todd is about to be this offseasons Luke Ridnour
Ish smith vibes
I know what you’re referring to but at least Ish has been a serviceable rotation piece
Suns only have one young prospect. Second rd pick this year
I hope Memphis keeps Todd
PHX is just diluting (further) the FRPs they can’t trade, in exchange for something they can trade (SRPs). Maybe Silver & Co. should take another look at the Stepien rule, namely, the purpose of the “every other year” aspect of the rule.