Proposing 3 potential trades that could spark the Memphis Grizzlies

The trade deadline is fast approaching and the Memphis Grizzlieshave to make an important decision.

Grizzlies general manager and executive vice president ZachKleiman has been doing his best Marvel impression by living in amultiverse, attempting to walk out two timelines: contending anddeveloping.

The core of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane is inits third year together and, when healthy, is one of the top triosin the entire NBA. More importantly, only Jackson is beyond hisrookie contract, as Morant and Bane are both still on rookie deals.This fact has led to a polarizing debate surrounding theGrizzlies.

When Memphis knocked the Golden State Warriors out of the firstNBA Play-In Tournament, everyone raved at the "ahead-of-schedule"nature of this team. Last season, the team traded away JonasValanciunas for Steven Adams and a shot at developing ZiaireWilliams and Santi Aldama. Kleiman was trying to develop ancillarypieces while still putting a competitive product on the floor.

Morant and the Grizzlies surprised everyone, finishing with thesecond-best record in the league and pushing the eventual-championWarriors to six games in arguably Golden State's toughest serieslast year. The "ahead-of-schedule" Grizzlies were still given apass because they were young and overacheiving.

Memphis is still the second seed in the Western Conferencedespite losing eight of their last nine contests. Injuries havebeen a huge factor as Jackson (17 games), Bane (22), Adams (10) andMorant (8) have all missed time due to injury. With the NBA tradedeadline on Thursday, the question is whether Kleiman will push thechips in and go for a title piece this year or continue on hismultiverse timeline.

Re-signing Adams and Tyus Jones suggests Memphis is interestedin contending. Trading away De'Anthony Melton, who struggledmightily in the postseason, suggests the same. Playing ZiaireWilliams, David Roddy and Jake LaRavia is the organizationattempting to sneak in development. It makes sense, as you have tofind the right role players on affordable deals (in this case,rookie contracts) who can have winning impact around your bigthree.

But even if it makes sense, there is also the flip side. At somepoint, you are no longer ahead of schedule and overachieving. Atsome point, the schedule and timeline eventually readjust to theprogress that has been made, and a new schedule begins. TheGrizzlies are no longer up-and-coming. They are here and the leaguehas adjusted, and so must Memphis.