When the Utah Jazz traded Taylor Hendricks to get their hands on Jaren Jackson Jr., he wasn't exactly having the best season. No one could blame him after what he had gone through, but it wasn't looking good for him.
But Memphis wanted some young talent for JJJ, so Utah sent them their former lottery pick. Since joining the Grizzlies, not only does Hendricks looks like he's turned the corner, but playing there granted him his wish to play for a team that would throw him to the wolves, which is something he wouldn't have gotten in Utah.
Because the Grizzlies are heavily undermanned while going through a transition, Hendricks has gotten the chance to stretch his legs in Grind City, and he's looked like a perfect fit.
Hendricks would have likely been an afterthought if he had stayed in Utah. His injury was hard enough to come back from, but Ace Bailey playing the same position as him, along with both the other young Jazz talent and getting another lottery pick, would have made it harder for him to stand out.
But in Memphis, that's not a problem now, as they are basically starting from scratch. Sure, his ascension can be a bit painful to see in real time because it didn't happen in Utah, but that comes with the territory of trading for someone like JJJ. Plus, with what he's been through, who among Jazz fans wouldn't be happy for him?
Hendricks just helped the Jazz out last night
Hendricks hasn't just had a couple of good games, but has had a string of them since joining in Memphis, and they're not just "good stats/bad team" performances either. Hendricks had a lot to do with why the Grizzlies managed to beat the Nuggets last night.
Hendricks had 13 points to go with six steals and three blocks against one of the NBA's best teams. If that's not proof that his contributions are going towards something good in the long run, what is?
Better than that, the Grizzlies have signaled that they are on the verge of a rebuild, making them a potential threat to move up in the tanking standings, but beating the Nuggets hurts their chances of catching the Jazz, thus making it likelier they won't succeed in that endeavor.
Did the Jazz need this help? Not really, because they're likely to lose the majority of their remaining games, and the likelihood of the Grizzlies being worse than them at season's end was laughably low anyway, but they'll take whatever they can get.
For them to win games like last night and to have Hendricks among those who helped makes the occasion even more special for Utah, given their intentions.