:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6931339/20120509_mje_ad8_362.0.jpg)
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies are starting the NBA trade season with a huge blockbuster. I'd hate to be the team that has to follow up this trade. I just don't see how you could top it. Anything else would feel really anticlimactic in comparison. Anyway, this is a thing that is happening.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Yahoo!'s Marc Spears, the Cavs and Grizzlies are closing in on a deal that would send Jon Leuer to Memphis and bring Marreese Speights, Josh Selby, and some sort of draft pick to Cleveland.
UPDATE: It sounds as though the deal is confirmed and the Cavs will also receive a 2nd round pick from Memphis in the deal.
Windhorst had it first on Twitter.
Just filed to ESPN: Cavs & Grizzlies are in talks on a deal that would send Marreese Speights & Josh Selby for Jon Leuer. Picks involved
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) January 22, 2013
You may be wondering why the heck this would happen. And the answer to your question is money. The Grizz have been trying to get under the luxury tax and this deal helps them do that. Marreese Speights makes $4.2 million this year and has a player option for $4.5 million next season. Although he's probably not worth that money (hence why the Grizzlies want to dump him), Speights is a big dude and fills a huge void on the Cavs' bench. They need size to spell Tyler Zeller in a big way -- Speights helps do that. The money isn't an issue for Cleveland, they have tons of cap room.
Josh Selby is a super athletic guy who is yet to materialize into anything useful at the NBA level, but he's cheap and has some upside. No word on what type of draft picks would be involved yet.
We shall keep you updated as we learn more. Go to Straight Outta Vancouver for the Grizzlies take on this blockbuster.