Grizzlies offered Nets 4 first-round picks for Mikal Bridges

The Memphis Grizzlies took a measured approach at the close of trading. The team forfeited a gargantuan move to go all-in in the Western Conference and instead struck a multi-team deal that earned them Luke Kennard of the Los Angeles Clippers.

As it turned out, the team tried to make a big swing but couldn’t make it. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Grizzlies approached the Brooklyn Nets to acquire Mikal Bridges and offered four first-round picks, though Scotto notes that “it’s unclear whether or not the picks included protections.”

Brooklyn acquired Bridges earlier this week in the deal that sent Kevin Durant and TJ Warren to the Phoenix Suns. Bridges was part of a package that included Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and five first-round picks. Four of these are unprotected in 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029, while the fifth is a 2028 pick swap. Brooklyn was poised to move one member of that trio of players to continue building his war chest of draft picks — Crowder was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal that gave the Nets two second-round picks.

It’s not hard to see why Memphis would covet a player like Bridges, who is in the midst of his best season as a pro. Bridges appeared in 56 games with the Suns that year and averaged 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 36.4 minutes per game while averaging 38.7 percent of his attempts of three met.