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Last night, ESPN's Marc Stein posted a tidbit on the Cleveland Cavaliers interest in Memphis Grizzlies backup center Kosta Koufos. Stein mentions that the Cavs would look to send Dion Waiters back to Memphis for Koufos. That's immediately an issue to me considering the Grizzlies don't really need another sub-6'6" shooting guard who can't shoot. In case you lost track, the Grizzlies are loaded up on the wing with Tony Allen, Courtney Lee, Quincy Pondexter, and Vince Carter (not even including the recently rejuvenated Tayshaun Prince.)
Aside from Waiters' redundancy, my biggest concern would be the Grizzlies' loss in size and backup options for Marc Gasol. Here's how some others at GBB broke it down:
No way the grizzlies Takeback waiters in any trade. Talk about continuity destroyer.
— Matt Hrdlicka (@theRealHrdlicka) December 8, 2014
Grizzlies should be cautious when thinking about dealing Koufos. His rim protection is highly valuable for second unit. Nobody else to do it
— Andrew Ford (@AndrewFord22) December 8, 2014
And, of course, Mullinax took the trade machine to work out some of the kinks for Cleveland:
(Buys June Memphis flight tickets) pic.twitter.com/w1WylE6WN8
— Joe Mullinax (@JoeMullinax) December 8, 2014
I think this trade possibility works much better than Koufos for Waiters, but it'd leave the Grizzlies without ANY true option at SF on the roster.
Another option from Hrdlicka is also tempting (KJ!!), but leaves Memphis searching for a big body to spell Gasol in the free agent market.
So maybe CLE gets Tay + Koufos, MEM gets KJ McDaniels. PHI takes waiters & MEM 1st round pick with changed protection to convey this year.
— Matt Hrdlicka (@theRealHrdlicka) December 8, 2014
It's tough to watch Koufos' contract expire without the Grizzlies getting something in return, but with Memphis' record currently standing at 16-4, it's hard to rationalize messing around too much.
What do you all think?