2012 NBA Draft: Grizzlies Select Tony Wroten Jr.
In the 2012 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies picked University of Washington standout point guard Tony Wroten Jr. with the 25th pick in the first round.
Wroten will join a team that was already good enough to finish 4th in the Western Conference in last year’s regular season, but ended the year with a disappointing seven game first round loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. One of the biggest reasons the Grizzlies’ season ended in the first round was because their back-up point guard play was spotty at best. Wroten intends on changing that.
Wroten is 6’6, 203 pounds and averaged 16 points on 48% shooting last season. Wroten brings the Grizzlies good size in the back court and could probably play either guard position. Some have compared Wroten to Tyreke Evans. If the Grizzlies get that type of player, they’ll be very happy with this pick because they have struggled to get to the rim at times lately.
Wroten’s downside is the same as everyone else’s downside on the Grizzlies. That is his three point range, of course. He shot a robust 18% from there last season, but young players often struggle with their jumper more than any other aspect of their game. The general reviews seem to be that his jump shot is not broken, just inconsistent with some bad form, but nothing to indicate that there may be permanent damage like Ronnie Brewer Jr. or someone like that.
Scouts also weren’t overly excited about Wroten’s right hand (he’s left-handed) but that’s something else that can be improved upon with some practice. The 2012 rookie class will benefit a lot this season from a full training camp and preseason as well.
The only thing we can hope for the Tony Wroten Jr. era is that Lionel Hollins will allow him to play through some mistakes rather than keeping a short leash on him like he has other players in the past. Wroten is going to make mistakes as a 19-year old player, but he can be an invaluable piece for the Grizzlies if he’s allowed to grow from them.
While the Grizzlies may be unsure as to what they’ll do with O.J. Mayo yet, it seems like Wroten will be the next guy to take up the mantle and be able to play with Mike Conley Jr. or Tony Allen, although that second line-up would offer no floor spacing whatsoever. Wroten and Quincy Pondexter would be something to watch out for though.
Player comparison: I’ve heard Tyreke Evans for Wroten and I would be ecstatic with even a poor man’s Evans next season. I liken Wroten more to a left-handed Jamal Crawford. Crawford is another explosive combo guard who did straighten his shot out and has been in the league for over a decade. If Wroten has a career like that, the Grizzlies may have found a steal late in the first round.
NBA Draft Grade= B-. The Grizzlies got a high upside combo guard to try and solidify their bench scoring if O.J. Mayo leaves after the season. If they retain Mayo, then they have a suddenly-interesting bench line-up of Wroten, Mayo, Pondexter, Dante Cunningham or Darrell Arthur and Marreese Speights and Hamed Haddadi.
Wroten’s lack of shooting would be offset by playing with Mayo and Pondexter, probably the Grizzlies two best three-point shooters (although you could talk me into Mike Conley Jr. too.)
The Grizzlies did what I wanted them to do and took a young, athletic point guard late in the draft. I preferred Kentucky’s Marquis Teague, but nobody seemed to be too impressed by his workout with the team last week and Wroten does a lot of the same things that Teague does anyway, just with his left hand.