The Memphis Grizzlies are set to pick up Jeff Green from the Boston Celtics, while the Phoenix Suns have nabbed Brandan Wright from the Celtics, according to the latest NBA trade rumors.
Both Green and Wright were reported to be on the block this week, so the trades aren’t that surprising. But the key is two Western Conference contenders have bolstered their rosters significantly.
The Grizzlies are sending Tayshaun Prince and a first-round pick to Boston for Green, reported Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo.
The move gives the Grizzlies a significant upgrade at the small forward position over Prince, Vince Carter, and Quincy Poindexter. Prince, 34, in his 15th NBA season, was averaging 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 24.1 minutes per game, 9 of them starts.
Green, 28, in his ninth season in the league, is averaging 17.6 points on 43 percent shooting, along with 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 33.1 minutes.
The Suns are sending a future first-round pick, one that it picked up previously from a trade with Minnesota, Wojnarowski said, for Wright. That pick is top-12 protected in the net two years, and if it’s not right turns into two second-rounders.
Wright, 27, in his eighth year, was arguably having his best season in the league this year behind Tyson Chandler on the Dallas Mavericks, benefiting from alley-oops and easy put-backs for a shooting percentage of over 74.8 percent.
He is also a defensive force, averaging 1.6 blocks per game despite relatively limited minutes (18.7 a game). He was also averaging 4.1 rebounds (and 8.8 points) per game. He was traded to Boston recently as the centerpiece of the Rajon Rondo trade with Dallas.
The Suns now have a new big man, with Alex Len and Miles Plumlee continuing to underwhelm. Wright could earn a starting position in Phoenix.
The Suns took him into salary cap space, as opposed to using an exception.
The Celtics now have 11 first-round picks over the next four years if both deals come through.
