Memphis Grizzlies: 2018 All-Star Break Draft outlook
By Chris Kern
With Mike Conley out for the year, the Memphis Grizzlies should be in full on tank mode. Though Tyreke Evans is staying in Memphis, this isn’t a good team.
With Mike Conley out for the year, the Memphis Grizzlies should be in full on tank mode. Despite Tyreke Evans staying in Memphis, this isn’t a good team, they need to get the best draft pick possible. The Grizzlies have some older players on big contracts, so the rebuild is going to be a challenge.
The Grizzlies have to decide what they want to do with Mike Conley and Gasol. Do they want to try and get as competitive as possible with them? Or do they want to fully move on from them? If they move on, there are many prospects at both point guard and center who could be taken.
They could also go with a “healthy” Michael Porter Jr. or Luka Doncic, if they are looking for a player to compliment Conley and Gasol. Hopefully, that isn’t the case though.
If they’re giving up on this iteration (which would be smarter and is more likely), it’s hard to pass on the upside of Oklahoma Point Guard Trae Young. He has the potential to become like Steph Curry one day. The team’s future plans will become much clearer after the trade deadline.
Tank
The Memphis Grizzlies are currently 18-37 and are tied for the fifth-worst record with the Orlando Magic. Finishing there could keep them from the likes of Marvin Bagley and Deandre Ayton, but there are still a few guys they could get at that spot. They’re going to have to decide what they want to do with Conley and Gasol, because it could be tough for these young stars to develop with those guys playing big minutes in their spot.
The Grizzlies could get the point guard of the future. Trae Young of Oklahoma and Collin Sexton of Alabama are both very good players. Trae Young has taken the College Basketball world by storm, while Collin Sexton has been very good in his own right.
There’s almost no reason to get a point guard with Mike Conley on board for the next few years. If Conley is coming back, they could go another route and get either a wing player or a big.
Jaren Jackson Jr. of Michigan State and Michael Porter Jr. are two guys that should be available as well. Both these two players are really good players who just seem to get forgotten at times. Porter has been injured all season, while Jackson sometimes gets overshadowed but his teammates such as Miles Bridges — despite him being the better pro prospect.
Mo Bamba and Deandre Ayton could be picked too, but the Grizzlies would need a high pick. These two players could potentially go in the top three of the draft. If they’re willing to move on from Gasol, then they could draft Bamba or Ayton which could be a great move to jumpstart this team’s rebuild. Conley could then lead the way at point guard for a couple years, or until the team is able to find a young guard to be the point guard of the future.
Draft
Making predictions as to who the Grizzlies will pick is nearly impossible. The standings will change so much the rest of the way. If I had to guess though, the Memphis Grizzlies will have a top-five pick, unless the lottery messes that up.
The Grizzlies would surely consider taking a guy like Marvin Bagley or Deandre Ayton, if the opportunity presents itself. Trae Young and Mo Bamba could be very possible options as well though.
Those guys won’t be possible if the Grizzlies win many more games.
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If the Grizzlies are picking close to 10, they could take Collin Sexton or Jaren Jackson Jr., if available.
They’re going to have plenty of options on draft night. There are many guys in this class who have the potential to become superstars. The Memphis Grizzlies have to make sure that they get one of those guys.
With the Grizzlies not having their first round pick next year, they need to make this one count. They have also had trouble drafting in recent years and this team can’t afford another bust. The pick of Hasheem Thabeet from 2009 still haunts this team. The last draft pick they’ve made that’s been successful is Mike Conley — though Dillion Brooks has been great so far.
The Grizzlies need this pick to get themselves a star that will be in Memphis for the long haul.