With the trade deadline a week away, The Memphis Grizzlies shipped out center Steven Adams to the Houston Rockets for shooting guard Victor Oladipo, and three second-round picks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Steven Adams
The 6 foot 11 center has been sidelined since 2023 due to undergoing surgery on his right knee. However, Adams is set to return for the 2024-25 NBA season. Before his surgery, Adams averaged 11.9 rebounds a game and was the league leader in offensive rebounds for the past two seasons.
Since being drafted twelfth in 2013, Adams has made a reputation for his strength on the defensive end and his ability to crash the offensive glass. Houston is looking to utilize these characteristics to help develop their young center Alperen Sengun. Sengun averages 21.7 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game and is starting to show glimpses of becoming a future star. Houston has a young core that has had rebounding and toughness issues. They hope Adams will use his spec in these categories to help them make their first playoff push since 2020.
Victor Oladipo
Oladipo has also not seen any play time this year due to an injury. Last April, Oladipo was hot with a patellar tendon injury and as of now has no timetable for his return. Also Drafted in 2013, Oladipo averaged 11.7 points per game and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 53% from the field before his injury.
With his contract up at the end of the season and his return unknown, there is a chance that he won’t even play for the Grizzlies. With half of the season remaining, there is still a chance for him to make a return. Ja Morant went down with a season-ending injury, a comeback from Oladipo would help give Memphis some much-needed help off the bench. If he gets to play, he could stay in Memphis, and provide a scoring assistance until Morant heals from his injury.
If the Grizzlies don’t see Oladipo play or if he signs elsewhere in the offseason, Memphis will get to use two of their three picks received in the trade in the upcoming NBA draft this summer. Then in the 2025 draft, they will have an additional pick in the second round. Whether they end up using all three of these picks or use them for draft capital, the Grizzlies will have tools to help build up their team.
Trade Recap
Memphis Receives
- Victor Oladipo
- Two 2024 second-round picks
- 2025 second-round pick
Houston Receives
- Steven Adams
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