When the Memphis Grizzlies finalized their final trade of the offseason, sending AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson for Micah Peavy, Jordan Hawkins, and a handful of second-round picks, they increased the number of players on their roster all the way up to 19, four above the allowable limit. They will presumedly have to cut at least four of those players to reach the cutoff before the start of the year.
The expectation is that Memphis will not make another trade, instead opting to release those leftovers to free agency. That list will likely include D'Angelo Russell, Kris Murray, and two of Micah Peavy, Jordan Hawkins, and Walter Clayton Jr.
None of those players are worth trading for, although Clayton Jr. being cut just a year after being drafted in the first round after his heroics at Florida would be truly shocking. To that point, it's hard to envision that the Indiana Pacers would trade for any of these players, but if the cost of business is zero, there's no harm in finding a spot on the team for them, G-League or otherwise.
If these players are available, common wisdom dictates they can't possibly be that good. After all, teams rarely waive good players (sorry, Damian Lillard; I hope you are the exception).
Still, it's never bad to add more young talent to a team hoping to extend this era of greatness. All the Pacers can do to get younger is hope to hit on a second draft candidate. With some of these players available to be exactly that, it's worth taking a glance.
Who is the best option: Clayton, Hawkins, or Murray?
The three young players that the Grizzlies are letting go have clear skills that made all of them first-round picks. They also have clear warts that have left them at this point of falling out of the league.
Which of them would best fit the Pacers? Well, let's take a closer look.
Clayton would function as a baby version of Andrew Nembhard, a shot maker and fellow older prospect who would like to contribute to a bench unit as a shooter and defender. His role would probably only exist a few years down the line, but his value is naturally the highest as we know the least about him
Hawkins would give the Pacers the shooting specialist they would need, although Hawkins delivers very little else in exchange for spending a roster spot. Even then, his shooting has fallen off since an impressive rookie season saw him find rotation minutes.
Murray is the least likely of these options. His brother, Keegan, was a top-four pick for the Sacramento Kings, while Kris, the younger, was a late first-round pick for the Portland Trail Blazers. Kris is not really a major difference-maker but he could be a regular season innings-eater.
Basketball is a sport that frequently requires bench players to play up in roles as injuries pile up. Each of these options could be great fits especially for their ability to step up when needed.
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