The Memphis Grizzlies are open to trading the No. 4 pick in the 2018 draft, but they’re looking to package Chandler Parsons in any deal.
According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, Memphis would be “likely” to include Parsons and his hefty contract should a trade be finalized.
Working to shed the $49.2 million remaining on Parsons’ contract is reasonable enough, since he’s an injury-prone forward who’s appeared in only 70 games during the last two seasons. But the Grizzlies have extra reason to shop him.
As it stands, the team is currently on the books for $103 million in salary. Memphis can’t do much to improve the roster if Parsons is still there.
Givony notes the Grizzlies want to stay in the lottery, and both the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks have reportedly expressed interest in moving up for Texas center Mohamed Bamba. Perhaps that’s the prospect who needs to fall.
And if that happens, Memphis might be in the ideal spot to facilitate a trade — and dump Parsons’ contract.