Memphis Grizzlies Throwback: The trade that cost them a 2017 draft pick

The Memphis Grizzlies will be stranded without a first-round pick in this year’s draft. How did they lose their pick in this deep draft?

As future stars like Markelle Fultz, Josh Jackson, Lonzo Ball and De’Aaron Fox enter the NBA draft, the Memphis Grizzlies will be missing out on the draft’s first-round festivities. How did they lose their draft pick? Was it the trade that brought Courtney Lee to town? Nope! Did they trade it to get Jeff Green? Try again. … Did they trade a first-round pick for a bench player? Yep, Jon Leuer. Yes, the Memphis Grizzlies traded a first-round pick for Jon Leuer, and that wasn’t even the whole trade.

In efforts to stay away from the luxury tax, the Memphis Grizzlies traded Josh Selby, Wayne Ellington, Marreese Speights and a future first-round draft pick to Cleveland for Jon Leuer. In 2015 and 2016, the Grizzlies would lose the pick if it landed between 6 and 14. This year, they lost it, because it didn’t land in the top five. By 2019, it would’ve been unprotected.

The Grizzlies ultimately made this trade to keep their core of Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. However, the trade was pointless, because they traded Rudy Gay weeks later.

This trade has hindered the Grizzlies’ future. As they’re in the midst of a transition, they’re missing out on young talent in one of the deepest drafts since 2003. The Grizzlies definitely aren’t getting younger, and they are in desperate need of a youthful punch. If they had their pick, they would have the 20th selection.