The Memphis Grizzlies are sending disappointing 2021 lottery pick Ziaire Williams to the Brooklyn Nets, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Wojnarowski said that Memphis, looking to clear salary as the Grizzlies are looking to re-sign Luke Kennard, is also parting ways with a 2030 second-round pick (via Dallas) to Brooklyn. In exchange, the Grizzlies receive Mamadi Diakite and the draft rights to 2014 second-round selection Serbian Nemanja Dangubic.
2024 NBA Trade Analysis: Who Won Trade For 2021 No. 10 Pick, What Is Next For The Griz and Nets
Williams is a talented wing who hasn’t lived up to his potential in three seasons with the Nets after being selected with the No. 10 pick in 2021. Williams shouldn’t have been drafted at No. 10 after one season at Stanford, as he wasn’t a good shooter in college.
Still, Williams is 22 years old and was seen as a good defender who struggles guarding the 3-point line. Williams has outstanding size, is uber-athletic, and finishes well at the rim. His most significant issue is shot selection, as 52.3% of his career attempts have come from beyond the arc.
Williams is coming off his best NBA season, statistically speaking, though he only appeared in 51 games. Williams averaged 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 21 minutes a game while compiling a shooting slash line of 39.7/30.7/82.7%. He produced his first double-double and set single-game career highs in points (27) and rebounds (10). He will make $6.1 million in the final year of his rookie deal.
Meanwhile, Mamadi Diakite has seen sparse NBA action since going undrafted out of Virginia in 2020. The 27-year-old 6-9 big man has appeared in 55 games for five teams. He totaled 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal in 24 minutes over six games in 2023-24—three games each for San Antonio and New York. He will make $2.2 million this season.
Dangubic has not signed an NBA contract since being selected with the 54th overall pick in the 2014 draft. This is the third time the 6-8 guard’s draft rights have been traded. The 31-year-old Serbian played for Peristeri BC of the Greek HEBA A1, averaging 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds with shooting splits of 46.4/42.9/78.9% in 51 games.
Brooklyn Nets Trade Grade: B
Brooklyn is rebuilding this year, so why shouldn’t the Nets take a flyer on a young athletic player? An experienced player, Williams projects to be part of the Nets rotation. He could have a major impact depending on what else the Nets do this offseason in terms of shedding salary.
The addition of Williams gives the Nets 14 players on standard contracts with salaries totaling $169.6 million. This puts the Nets $1.1 million below the NBA tax line. Therefore, don’t expect the Nets to add another player without a corresponding move, whether a trade or cutting Jalen Wilson. Wilson has a nonguaranteed deal, but he is expected to make the 15-man roster.
Here is What ESPN’s Bobby Marks says about what to watch for the Nets:
“The futures of Dorian Finney-Smith and Cameron Johnson. Finney-Smith has two years left on his contract but has a $15.4 million player option in 2025-26.
Johnson has three years and $66 million remaining on his deal. One hindrance to a Johnson trade is the $4.5 million in unlikely bonuses in his contract. The incentives count toward the apron for any team looking to acquire the 28-year-old forward.”
Memphis Grizzlies Trade Grade: B (with the potential to get to an A)
Memphis cuts about $4 million in salary with the trade. The Grizzlies are $10 million below the tax threshold and $15.7 beneath the first tax apron with 14 players on standard deals. Williams wasn’t expected to crack the Grizzlies rotation this year.
This salary space is expected to be used by the Grizzlies to re-sign Kennard. Kenard only played in 39 games and made $14 million this past season as part of a four-year $54 million deal he previously signed. Don’t expect the Griz to give him the $14 million he made last season, though $8-to-$12 million a season isn’t out of the question.
“The Grizzlies made a financial decision when declining the $14.8 million team option of Luke Kennard, Marks said. “The move allowed Memphis to go under the luxury tax and first apron.”
According to Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal, Memphis may want to keep an open roster spot at the start of the season if the Grizzlies can secure a deal with Kennard. Therefore, Diakite could be cut as only $1.3 million of his 2024-25 salary is guaranteed.
If Diakite is cut, the Grizzlies will likely have nothing to show for giving away Williams. Dangubic is unlikely to ever come to the NBA.
If Kennard signs with Memphis, the Griz will have upgraded their roster.
