Memphis Obtained Troy Daniels Through a Sign-and-Trade
On July 12, 2016, Charlotte sent shooting guard Troy Daniels to Memphis in a sign-and-trade agreement. The Grizzlies returned cash considerations and a traded-player exception for Charlotte, whose crowded wing rotation made Daniels expendable. Memphis needed perimeter shooting on a team built around Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. Daniels had previously shown exceptional three-point shooting in short stretches with Houston and Charlotte, but his Hornets playing role had been limited. Neither team sent a first-round draft choice, a future second-round selection or a major veteran scorer through this specific agreement. The cash and exception were real assets for Charlotte, while the Grizzlies acquired the opportunity to use Daniels as an experienced outside threat. The exchange should not be confused with Memphis’s other 2016 free-agent moves.
Daniels Became a Useful Bench Shooter for Memphis
Daniels appeared in 67 Memphis games in 2016-17, averaging 8.2 points and making more than 40 percent of his three-point attempts. He was not a starting guard on a team with established perimeter leaders, but his willingness to shoot off the catch gave the bench a scoring option in otherwise slower half-court lineups. Memphis reached the playoffs and lost to San Antonio in the first round. Daniels stayed with the franchise for additional seasons, providing further shooting depth after the initial trade. The Grizzlies C+ inherited grade is supported by actual games, three-point volume and an affordable veteran role rather than by asserting that Daniels became a new franchise star. His later Phoenix and Denver appearances are distinct from the return Memphis received in this agreement. The first-season contribution was already larger than Charlotte’s direct on-court acquisition, because the Hornets took financial consideration rather than an incoming player.
Charlotte Chose Cash and a Transaction Mechanism
Charlotte did not get another NBA rotation player back. The Hornets received cash and a trade exception, allowing the team to adjust salary and roster plans while avoiding the cost of another contract at Daniels’s position. Those returns can help an organization, but they cannot be counted as Charlotte NBA points or starts. The Hornets C grade reflects practical financial flexibility and a decision to move a guard who was unlikely to lead their offense. The Memphis Win verdict and slightly higher C+ grade are supported by the more concrete result: Memphis acquired a useful outside shooter who appeared regularly. There was no conditional draft pick that later conveyed, so attributing a future named NBA prospect to Charlotte would be incorrect. The two front offices were trading different values, player minutes on one side and salary flexibility on the other.
Final Verdict
Grizzlies Win. Memphis receives C+ after obtaining Troy Daniels, who played 67 games and averaged 8.2 points in 2016-17 while shooting over 40 percent from three. Charlotte earns C for cash and a traded-player exception, with no incoming NBA player or draft pick in this transaction.