Grizzlies tinker at the deadline by trading James Ennis to Pistons

James Ennis is heading to the Pistons, a minor move for the Grizzlies as they figure out what to do next.

James Ennis heading to the Detroit Pistons, a minor move for a Grizzlies team that could have been very active at the deadline.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Grizzlies got back Brice Johnson and a second-round pick in exchange for Ennis, who was having another solid season in Memphis before being dealt. The acquisition of Ennis rounds out the picture for both clubs.

For the Pistons, it completes their transformation from a playoff team into a dark horse in the soft Eastern Conference. For the Grizzlies, it’s another move to take a step back this season and hopefully come back stronger next year.

Memphis was supposed to be a playoff team this season, but thanks to injury, the Grizzlies have been mired in quicksand in the ultra-tough Western Conference. So it made absolutely no sense to keep this team intact and to move forward, the Grizzlies front office had to move some players in order to begin their rebuilding.

Don’t worry, Memphis fans, Marc Gasol, the heart and soul of the franchise, is still roaming the court and will be for the rest of the season. But the offseason may tell a different story, as they could look to shed contracts for picks.

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The trade of James Ennis may be the beginning of more moves to come. Tyreke Evans, who is having a rebirth, is on his way out of town, and more will follow in the offseason to come. Ennis had a nice run on Beale Street, but it was time for him to go and be with a team that’s actually going places.

As it stands right now, that team isn’t the Memphis Grizzlies.