No. 3: This draft was the turning point
In previous drafts this decade, the Memphis Grizzlies were solidified as a playoff team. If they messed up, it wasn’t going to do much harm. At that point, it was a case where more talent always helps.
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In 2016, the narrative was different — at least before free agency. The Memphis Grizzlies were just swept in the playoffs, largely due to an abundance of injuries. Through the injury bug, it was evident that the Grizzlies didn’t have any promising young talent behind the “Core 4.” Nobody you could hand the franchise to.
With Tony Allen and Zach Randolph near the end of their contracts and Mike Conley in the free agency, what happened in the 2016 draft could do a lot for their future. They could’ve drafted a point guard to be the eventual — or the immediate if Conley left — replacement for Mike Conley. They also could’ve used the pick on eventual replacements for other members of the “Core 4.”
When they traded for two more picks, they had two more shots at finding eventual successors to the “Core 4.”
Now, we’re forced to rely on reclamation projects (McLemore), former sub All-Star talent that’s injury-prone (Parsons and Evans) and unproven young talent with not-so-high ceilings.
Granted, finding booming All-Star talent would be hard in the 2016 draft, but they could’ve at least found a solid piece for the future.