3 potential trades for teams with NBA lottery picks

MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 10, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 23: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at FedExForum on March 23, 2019 in Memphis, Tennessee. Minnesota won 112-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The Grizzlies, who are in the middle of a rebuild after trading Marc Gasol to the Raptors at the 2019 trade deadline, own the second overall pick. With Murray State point guard Ja Morant viewed by many as the second-best prospect in the draft, the trade rumors for Mike Conley Jr. heated up the second the Grizzlies selection was announced.

The Grizzlies weren’t able to secure a first-round pick from the Raptors when they traded Gasol, getting Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, CJ Miles, and a 2024 second-round pick in exchange for their starting center. With Conley on the wrong side of 30-years-old, they have a chance now to deal him and acquire their new franchise point guard in the draft.

For the Celtics, this is an opportunity to continue to field a title contender while getting a chance to move on from Kyrie Irving. While the former No. 1 overall pick is a talented player, it’s arguable that Irving limited the Celtics from being the best team they could be, with his defensive limitations and ball-dominant style of play. Conley is a better defender, and better suited to play within the Brad Stevens system. With talented wing players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics have the talent on the perimeter to afford to lose Irving’s scoring while improving on the defensive end of the court.

The loss of Hayward for the Celtics would sting, as the talented forward may never be able to return to the heights that seemed possible when he signed with the team as a free agent only to suffer a season-ending injury in his first regular season game. With his salary, he is the only logical asset to be moved in a trade for Conley, and he gets to join Chandler Parsons in Memphis for a season, two former great players who had their careers altered by terrible injuries.

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