Grizzlies acquire P.J. Hairston, draft picks in 3-team deal
The Memphis Grizzlies will be without star center Marc Gasol for extended period of time, perhaps the rest of the season, and the dominoes appear to be falling.
Memphis traded veteran Courtney Lee to acquire young guard P.J. Hairston, four second-round draft picks and Chris Anderson's expiring contract in a three-team trade on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. The Grizzlies sent Lee, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent, to the Charlotte Hornets, a team in need of wing help following the injury to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, in order to start acquiring future assets.
According to Chris Herrington of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Grizzlies now own the second-round rights to Miami's 2017 second-round pick (if in top-40), Charlotte's 2018 pick, Brooklyn's 2019 pick and Boston's 2019 pick (top-56 protected).
With Mike Conley, Jeff Green, Matt Barnes and Mario Chalmers set to hit free agency and Gasol out for an indefinite amount of time, the Grizzlies are clearly looking toward the future by trading Lee, who was averaging 10 points per game as one of their top outside shooters.
The 6-foot-6 Hairston, a first-round selection in 2014, has had his defensive issues in Charlotte, but his offensive game has taken a step forward in Year 2 and he could be given an opportunity to provide a scoring punch off Dave Joerger's bench this season. The Hornets had already elected not to pick up Hairston's team option for next season.
The Grizzlies sit in fifth in the Western Conference at the moment, but the rebuilding gears could be set in motion with this deal.
