It’s not even February and it’s already feeling like deadline season. Or maybe it’s just because Danny Ainge is determined to hold every first-round draft pick the next four years after dealing Brandan Wright to the Suns. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports the Grizzlies have been in discussion for weeks — something we noted two night’s ago — to acquire Jeff Green from the Celtics. Right now they’re in the process of a deal that would send Green to Memphis in exchange for a future first-round pick and Tayshaun Prince‘s expiring $7.7 million contract, but they’re awaiting a third team’s finalization to make it official.
Boston is nearing an agreement to send Jeff Green to Memphis for Tayshaun Prince and a first-round pick, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2015
Woj also reports the first-round pick will be protected and likely won’t come until 2018 or 2019.
As noted previously, the Grizzlies at first tried to wrestle Luol Deng from the Heat, but once that fizzled — as ESPN.com’s Marc Stein notes — they convinced Boston to part with Green for a single first-round pick:
When the Grizzlies couldn't make any headway on Luol Deng pursuit, they zeroed in on Green over the last 48 hours and sold Boston on deal
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 9, 2015
Boston had originally balked unless they could get two first-round picks in the exchange, per Woj:
Boston, Memphis have been discussing Jeff Green trade for several weeks, sources tell Yahoo. Boston had wanted two firsts until recently
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2015
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com says the Clippers had engaged in discussions to acquire Green from the C’s, but LA didn’t have the expiring contracts to bring it to fruition:
If Green deal is finalized tonight, Boston GM Danny Ainge will potentially have 11 first-round picks over the next four years.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2015
Green did not take the floor against the Pacers tonight, lending credence to the idea the trade will be finalized before the weekend:
Jeff Green does not take the floor with his teammates here in Indianapolis. pic.twitter.com/mVALLiOOcA
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) January 9, 2015
Green can score — though he struggles going to his left – and defend both forward spots. He’s averaging 17.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 33.1 minutes per game this season. His overall field goal percentage is up from 41.2 percent last season to 43.4 this year, but his three-point percentage has dropped from 34.1 percent in 2013-14 to 30.5 so far this season in 33 starts. Green will make $9.2 million this year and has a player option for the same amount next season.
The Grizzlies are receiving another forward who can spread the floor. Tayshaun Prince is no longer an elite defender, and hasn’t been for some time. Plus, his janky jumper made their spacing claustrophic in the half-court — even with Courtney Lee shooting so well (.496/.494/.904 shooting splits so far this season) when he replaces Tony Allen in the lineup.
The deal also means Memphis keeps pace with the Western Conference playoff teams — Dallas, Phoenix, Houston — who have already made moves during this trade season to try and improve their rosters.
Who won the trade?
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