The Memphis Grizzlies finished 22-60 last season and the team is in an extremely weird position. On one hand, the Grizzlies owe more than $75 million to three players (Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons) for next season and, if Gasol were to opt in for 2019-2020, the same financial commitment would be owed for another campaign. On the other, Memphis seems to be coming around, at least tangentially, to the reality that they are not ready to compete on the highest level, and that means the consideration of forward-facing moves.
For a while, the Grizzlies have been toeing the line of a (very) top-heavy roster in a small market and, for good measure, the team is also going through machinations with regard to an ownership shift. The principals aren’t changing, at least for now, but Memphis has a big decision to make in the 2018 NBA Draft and that is magnified by the fact that the organization owes its 2019 first-round pick (albeit protected) to the Boston Celtics as part of a previously conceived trade.
The Grizzlies own the No. 4 and No. 32 picks in the upcoming class and, fortunately, this is a deep and talented draft. Still, this isn’t a situation akin to what is happening with other potentially rebuilding franchises in that, for now, the No. 4 pick is the asset for Memphis to make a big splash for the future. There are rumors that they want to pair that pick with Parsons to move his contract, but until that’s official, we’re operating under the assumption they make their pick.
Here are some options that would make sense for the Grizzlies at either of their draft positions.
- Marvin Bagley III – C/PF, Duke – Because Memphis is in a pivot position in this class, a lot of the players they’ll be connected to could be off the board before they can select them. Bagley III fits in that camp, as he has been widely linked to the Kings at No. 2 overall. With that said, there is a debate as to where Bagley III should be playing on the floor moving forward and, in Memphis, he would have the opportunity to eschew rim protection responsibilities (hello, Marc Gasol) in favor of an all-court role that could unlock his high-end athleticism and skill.
- Luka Doncic – SF/PG, Slovenia – Doncic, for me, is the best player in this draft and it would be strange to see him drop to No. 4 overall. There is buzz that it is possible, though, and that would make the decision very easy for the Grizzlies. He isn’t a pure point guard in that he can’t defend point guards in the NBA but Doncic has the ability to run an offense with amazing creativity and passing. Combine that with legitimate size (6’8) and an encouraging shooting stroke and his partnership with Mike Conley would be a lot of fun.
- Jacob Evans – SG/SF, Cincinnati – The Grizzlies could go a number of directions at No. 32 and it is always impossible to gauge which players will make it that far. Memphis will have options in a wing/perimeter roles and Evans is a 3-and-D player with a high basketball IQ that would fit nicely on this roster that values defense.
- Melvin Frazier – SF, Tulane – Frazier brings real upside in that he is a tremendous athlete with a wingspan north of 7’0. He is probably best cast as a 3-and-D supporting piece but the tools are there for a potentially dominant defender on the wing and, if he makes shots from 3-point range, look out.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. – C/PF, Michigan State – Much like Bagley and Doncic above, Jackson Jr. may not be here and he is a more tenuous fit next to Gasol. Obviously, the jury is out as to whether Gasol will be in Memphis long-term at this point and, if the Grizzlies aren’t 100 percent sold, Jackson Jr. would be a “best player available” choice. He has incredible tools defensively, to the point where he is the best prospect in the class on that end, and Jackson Jr. always brings an intriguing skill set to the table offensively.
- De’Anthony Melton – SG/PG, USC – Evans and Frazier are pure wings, whereas Melton is a combo guard with length and versatility. He may not be a perfect fit but he’s in the top 20 on my personal board, defends multiple positions and can run an offense when asked to do so. He would be a great value in the early second round.
- Michael Porter Jr. – PF/SF, Missouri – Both the Grizzlies and Kings have been linked to Porter Jr. in the lead up to the draft and that is the impetus for this inclusion. Porter Jr. would be a reach for me at No. 4 overall but he does have the pure talent to land in the top-five and the Grizzlies would have to be very comfortable with his medicals and off-court evaluation in order to pull the trigger. If they are, he might make sense, especially if they elect to go forward with Gasol and Conley.
