Jonas Valanciunas, Memphis Grizzlies Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The Memphis Grizzlies made one of the first high-profile trades of the 2021 offseason when they sent Jonas Valanciunas to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams, and a pair of swapped picks. The Grizzlies also received a 2022 protected first-round pick.
The trade was a bit off from what was originally expected, and generally speaking, it was thought to be a win-win for both sides of the deal. That said, there were fans who weren’t thrilled with this deal, as Memphis had just sent off their most consistent player from the 2020-21 season in JV.