Grizzlies, Pelicans Agree To Trade Package Ahead Of NBA Draft

Leading up to Thursday’s 2021 NBA Draft, the Grizzlies and Pelicans have agreed to a massive trade, per multiple reports.

The Grizzlies are trading Jonas Valanciunas to the Pelicans for Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe, with several draft picks also involved.

Exchanging key role players and picks, the news was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and is detailed as follows:

Memphis Grizzlies Receive
Steven Adams
Eric Bledsoe
Picks No. 10 And 40 (2021)
Protected first-round pick (2022, via LA Lakers)

New Orleans Pelicans Receive
Jonas Valanciunas
Picks No. 17 and 51 (2021)

The trade will place Memphis over the salary cap instead of their estimated $24 million in spending room prior to the trade.

Following the trade, Yahoo Sports NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported that the 31-year-old Bledsoe announced he will not remain with the Grizzlies.

Memphis officially finished as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference last season.

Eric Bledsoe, who New Orleans included in a trade package, is not expected to stay in Memphis, league sources tell @YahooSports.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 26, 2021