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NBA Trade Deadline: The trade each team must make

By Michael Dunlap

May 15, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson (15) and center Kendrick Perkins (5) watch the game against the Memphis Grizzlies from the bench during the second half of game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson (15) and center Kendrick Perkins (5) watch the game against the Memphis Grizzlies from the bench during the second half of game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 13, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Lavoy Allen (5) is guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng (5) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Lavoy Allen (5) is guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng (5) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /

Beale Street Bears (Memphis Grizzlies)

Memphis Grizzlies trade forward Jon Leuer and guard Nick Calathes for forward Lavoy Allen of the Indiana Pacers

The Memphis Grizzlies are in win-now mode, and the recent trade of Tayshaun Prince and Quincy Pondexter for Jeff Green of Boston has tremendously helped out the team.

The team has lacked some much needed depth at the forward position though since the trade for Jeff Green. Green has slid into the small forward slot, but hasn’t played much at power forward since the trade.

The Grizzlies’ have been forced to use Zach Randolph, Kosta Koufos and Marc Gasol in extended minutes at the 4 & 5 spot on the floor. If Randolph and Gasol are forced to play 36+ minutes per game it’s going to tire them out down the stretch.

For more Memphis Grizzlies, go to BealeStreetBears.com!
For more Memphis Grizzlies, go to BealeStreetBears.com! /

The Grizzlies’ are heavy at the shooting guard position with Courtney Lee, Tony Allen, Vince Carter and Jordan Adams. Nick Calathes is the odd man out right now on the Memphis roster.

Moving over to the forward position for the Grizzlies’, they are short on the depth chart. Jon Leuer out of Wisconsin is the backup forward behind Zach Randolph, but he lacks the size to play with bigger forwards in the league. Trading a combo of Leuer and Calathes for Lavoy Allen of the Indiana Pacers is the move that Memphis should make before the trade deadline.

At 6’9″ and 255 lbs, Allen has the much needed size to battle with the bigs in the Western Conference. He averages just over six points and six rebounds per game which is much better than the production the Grizzlies’ are currently getting from the backup forward position off the bench.

Indiana is in rebuilding mode, and are in need of some young talent. Calathes and Leuer have a PER of just above 12, which is below the league average of 15. Allen is just under 16 in PER.

The ESPN trade machine predicts the Grizzlies’ would pick up an extra win this season if the trade were to go thru, while the Pacers would lose two more games than originally predicted.

I believe this trade would benefit both teams in the long run, because Indiana is getting some young talent, and Memphis is getting the same in return. This trade will help Memphis make a run at winning the Western Conference in 2015.

Next: A three-teamer by Oklahoma City

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