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Memphis Grizzlies: 5 Worst Picks in Franchise History

By Parker Fleming

Apr 22, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; An overall view before the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; An overall view before the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Drew Gooden (90) attempts to dunk the ball as Brooklyn Nets forward Chris McCullough (1) and Nets forward Thomas Robinson (41) look on in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 121-103. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Drew Gooden (90) attempts to dunk the ball as Brooklyn Nets forward Chris McCullough (1) and Nets forward Thomas Robinson (41) look on in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 121-103. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Drew Gooden (No. 4 in 2002)

Aside from Yao Ming, the top-5 in this draft class was overall weak. Jay Williams’ off-the-court issues had him out of the league. Mike Dunleavy became a spot-up shooter who could kind of score. You can’t even spell, pronounce or recognize the fifth pick of the draft (Nikoloz Tskitishvili). Then, there’s Drew Gooden.

If you look at his career, Gooden wasn’t a terrible player. He lasted 14 seasons in the league and averaged 11 points and 7.1 rebounds throughout that span. However, he just wasn’t the player for the Grizzlies. Before his rookie season ended, Memphis traded him for Mike Miller, a player who became a key component for the team and a fan favorite.

In the grand scheme of things, they missed out on a Hall-of-Fame talent.

Who they could’ve drafted instead

High-school phenom Amare Stoudemire was on the Grizzlies’ radar, but they weren’t his prime option. He declined a workout with Memphis, ultimately leading them to pass on him.

They should’ve just taken him. Unless he demanded to never suit up in uniform, they should’ve looked to build on a duo of Pau-Stoudemire. They would have two Hall-of-Fame big men in their athletic peaks paired with passing guru Jason Williams and Swiss-army knife Shane Battier. The Grizzlies could’ve become one of the better teams in basketball.

Even though they got Mike Miller (my all-time favorite Grizzly), they missed out on the one of the league’s most unique talents of the 2000’s.

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