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What if: the 2003 NBA Draft, LeBron James and the Memphis Grizzlies

By Mike Parrott

Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with the Bill Russell MVP Trophy after beating the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with the Bill Russell MVP Trophy after beating the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The next few years…

For the next few years in this hypopthetical, LeBron and the new-look Grizzlies won’t have won a championship and they wouldn’t be a fully-fledged contender till 2009.

Changes

Pau Gasol doesn’t get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. This is due to Jerry West believing he has a contender with LeBron and Pau together and doesn’t see the need to rebuild. 

Apr 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) along with the Clippers bench react after a three point basket against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half of game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) along with the Clippers bench react after a three point basket against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half of game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Draft changes: In 2006 the Grizzlies selected Rudy Gay. In this hypothetical, there was no point drafting Gay. They’d still go along with the Battier trade for the eigth pick, but instead they would take J.J. Redick, needing another shooter next to LeBron to pair up on the wings with Miller. This would make the Grizzlies fully small-ball with Lebron at the 4 with two shooters next to him.

Another draft change will have happened in 2007. In real life, the Grizzlies had a horrible season and ending up with the fourth overall pick. But with James and Redick (minus Gay), they would have been drafting near the end of the first round and with a need at point guard still, Aaron Brooks likely would’ve become a Grizzly.

For the next draft (‘08) The Grizzlies would’ve still been drafting near the end rather than the top. In this hypothetical with a plethora of shooting around LeBron they would’ve stuck with that in ‘08 and taken Ryan Anderson near the end of the draft (taken 21st in reality).

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