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#2 - Marcus Smart, point guard
If there was an NBA award for hustle and grit, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart would be in contention to win it every single year.
Smart is one of the best defensive players in the league at the guard position and is a capable player on the offensive side of the ball.
The Memphis Grizzlies are a young team and perhaps lack a player with a strong mentality. Smart will bring in just that, along with his ability to make key defensive plays throughout the game.
Marcus Smart averaged 13 points and 5 assists during the 2020-21 NBA season, playing alongside defensive liability Kemba Walker in the Boston Celtics backcourt. It could be argued that Morant is a much better defender than Walker, and if the Memphis Grizzlies end up signing Smart, they will have a brilliant defensive pairing at the guard spots.
Smart is entering the last year of his deal, which means a move away from the Celtics cannot be ruled out.
#1 - Jusuf Nurkic, center
NBA trade rumors about Damian Lillard have cast a cloud of doubt over Jusuf Nurkic's future. If the Portland Trail Blazers part ways with the Bosnian center, the Memphis Grizzlies should be the first team to call Portland executive Neil Olshey about a possible trade.
The Grizzlies have a solid frontcourt, with Jonas Valancunias and Jaren Jackson Jr. manning the center and power forward spots respectively, while Brandon Clarke and Xavier Tillman are part of the reserves.
However, with Nurkic's possible addition, the Memphis Grizzlies will boast arguably the best frontcourt in terms of both quality and depth. The last few playoffs have shown the importance of having a dominant frontcourt, and the Memphis Grizzlies will have the luxury of rotating three quality options during games.
Nurkic is an injury-prone player, but his team-friendly contract means he won't prove to be much of a risk.
Guess the Bulls players in this quiz and it's not going to be easy!
