The Memphis Grizzlies are approximately 11 days from finding out their fate when the cards are reveled during the NBA draft lottery.
Memphis has the second highest odds of getting the number one draft pick on May 15th, but the Phoenix Suns have the biggest odds. Why are we mentioning the Suns? Here is why: Phoenix found their new head coach a few days ago in former Utah Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov. Kokoskov will no doubt bring sustainability to an organization that has struggled to win since the Steve Nash era.
Now, again, why are we discussing the Suns head coach? Luka Doncic. The projected top five pick played under Kokoskov in the Euro league.
Kokoskov did a great job of putting Doncic in positions to succeed @ Eurobasket. Got the defense moving side to side before bringing Doncic off a ball screen going right w' a spaced floor. He's at his best when he can catch on the move & pick teams apart. https://t.co/FjeHn0rPwU pic.twitter.com/wotl0H5uoN
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) May 2, 2018
I bring this up because so many people wanted Doncic available when the Grizzlies picked in that top five spot. With the Suns holding the highest odds, and their new head coach one of Doncic’s old coaches from over seas, it looks like a done deal.
Draft Ayton?
Possibly, but he has already hinted at wanting to go to Phoenix and team up with their star guard Devin Booker and being the next “Shaq and Kobe.”
Deandre Ayton sees himself in Phoenix with Devin Booker creating Shaq and Kobe 2.0 for Suns https://t.co/PZlLZy5YPD
— The Bright Side (@BrightSideSun) April 1, 2018
Not that I think that Ayton will be a bust, because he won’t be, but when was the last time a seven footer lead an NBA team to success? Right, it’s been about a decade, and the NBA has moved on with building around guards. In the current NBA, centers are used to slow games down, and stop dribble penetration, and I would not waste a top five pick on a role player. Again, not knocking Ayton’s talent, he will be special, he just has to land with the right system.
Well, who else is there?
Marvin Bagley out of Duke is almost a sure NBA talent. Now that the Grizzlies have a great developmental coach in Chad Forcier.
Memphis Grizzlies: J.B. Bickerstaff's first hire for the @memgrizz is a good one.https://t.co/xJwADHqGBo
— Beale Street Bears (@BealeStBearsFS) May 4, 2018
Right now, Bagley is mainly a player that plays around the rim and shown he has some potential from deep. In order to get Bagley to get a better mid-range game, and eventually shoot the three ball consistently a coach like Forcier almost guarantees that. Developing guys to fit into a system is hard, but Danny Green and Gary Neal were great role players in San Antonio that forcier developed.
At this point, after so many missed draft picks, the best option would be to secure the bag in Bagley. He is safe, and has the highest ceiling in today’s NBA.