MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies traded their 2022 first-round pick to the Phoenix Suns as part of a three-team trade just before the NBA's trade deadline Thursday, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
According to Shams, the Grizzlies are sending forward David Roddy to the Suns in return for a future NBA draft pick swap and forward Yuta Watanabe. The Suns are also acquiring Royce O'Neale from the Brooklyn Nets in the deal.
Roddy was drafted by the Grizzlies in 2022 and averaged 6.7 points per game from the bench his rookie season. He saw an increase in playing time in 2023-2024 with a long list of injuries affecting Memphis' front court, and his per-game point total increased to 8.4 per game this season, while also averaging more than four rebounds per game.
He joins a Phoenix team currently fifth in the NBA's Western Conference standings, and primed to make a push for the playoffs.
Watanabe previously played for the Grizzlies from 2018-2020. In his fifth season, he's averaging 3.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game while shooting 36% from the field.