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Memphis Grizzlies: Final Pre-Lottery Big Board

By Justin Lewis

NORMAN, OK - FEBRUARY 17: Oklahoma Sooners Guard Trae Young (11) dribbles past Texas Longhorns Center Mohamed Bamba (4) during a college basketball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns on February 17, 2018, at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, OK. (Photo by David Stacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - FEBRUARY 17: Oklahoma Sooners Guard Trae Young (11) dribbles past Texas Longhorns Center Mohamed Bamba (4) during a college basketball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns on February 17, 2018, at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, OK. (Photo by David Stacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The NBA Draft Lottery is tonight and the Memphis Grizzlies still have hope for the number one pick.

The Grizzlies have never had the number one pick in the NBA Draft. They have had the No. 2 pick 4 times (Mike Bibby, Steve Francis, Stromile Swift, and The One We Shall Not Name). Heading into tonight Memphis has a 19.9% to land the No. 1 pick and can fall no further than No. 5.

So before we learn the fate for this year’s draft, I will give one final draft board as if all players will be available for the Grizzlies. (aka winning the draft lottery)

1. Michael Porter Jr.

Sure he played 50-something minutes of college basketball. But does anyone remember Kyrie Irving’s one year at Duke? He played in 11 games due to an injury. Michael Porter could be the next Greg Oden but he could also be the next Kevin Durant.

Pop Quiz: What is the one thing the Grizzlies have needed for years?

Answer: Wing Scoring

Michael Porter Jr can do just that. Before he was injured, he was considered the no doubt number one pick heading into this draft.  He is the best player in this draft and that’s who the Grizzlies need to draft. If his medicals check out, it should be a no brainer.

2. Luka Doncic

Anyone ever heard of Kristaps Porzingis? Luka has blown away The Unicorn’s European numbers on his way to a top two PER in the EuroLeague. Its so easy to assume that a young European guard cannot come to the NBA and defend. Multiple scouting reports say that this kid is something special.

Luka would help take ball handling responsibilities from Conley allowing him to play off ball, but could also possibly defend the 1-4 spots in a solid team defense. He is an unknown because most of us have not watched him play, but if he is what the scouts say, he is the undisputed number 2 on the big board.

3. Trae Young

Let me be clear, Trae Young is not Kevin Durant. With that being said, when Durant went to the Warriors, the beauty was that a defense could not double team someone and leave a Curry or Thompson or Durant open.

Well at Oklahoma, it was just Trae Young. Young was double teamed 43.7% of the time he touched the ball past half court. He also led the nation in assists, something Steph Curry (who everyone wants to compare him to) did not do in college.

The Grizzlies need scoring, backcourt scoring at that. They also need a back up point guard, unless you believe in Andrew Harrison of course. He is third on the big board because of his size, but his talent is undeniable.

4. Mikail Bridges

So this is where people are asking about Ayton or Bagley. I will get to why they don’t make the list in a minute. Bridges is that D-and-Three player the Grizzlies really have not had since James Posey. His ceiling certainly isn’t the highest in this draft but his floor is one of the highest.

Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks are just two examples of players who stayed in college multiple years and came in the NBA more mature and ready to better contribute right away. If the Grizz fall to four or five, Bridges should be one of the players considered.

The Other Guys

Under no circumstance should the Grizzlies draft Mo Bamba or Jaren Jackson Jr. Scouts are raving that Bamba has an “elite skill” but he reminds me too much of the biggest bust in franchise draft history. Jackson is getting love for his “potential.” We need players that perform. Dillon Brooks performed at Oregon winning Pac 12 Player of the Year and led his team to a Final Four. Jackson simply did not perform.

Ayton is considered a no brainer top two pick but I am not buying it. He shrunk in the NCAA Tournament against Buffalo. He also doesn’t have the ceiling that Bagley or Porter have.

I would not be totally upset if the Grizzlies drafted Marvin Bagley but he does not make my big board (maybe at No. 5). He has a high motor and produced consistently at the highest level. The problem with Bagley is his defense. Coach K had to play zone this year to not only compensate for Wendell Carter’s lack of lateral quickness but also Bagley’s inability to guard anyone. In the NBA, if you cannot guard someone, you will struggle to get off the bench.

Can Bagley guard the stretch fours? Can he bang with the true centers?

Final Thought

Forget about the anomaly that is the Golden State Warriors. Look at the Sixers and Celtics and the make up of their roster. They have a bunch of positionless basketball players. Why is that important? Defending the pick and roll, which the Rockets destroyed the league with this year.

Celtics have guys like Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris that can all switch on defense and guard 1-4.

The key in today’s NBA is versatility. Drafting Porter, Bridges, or Doncic allows for that versatility.

After tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery, more accurate big boards will come out, as well as the Draft Combine and individual work outs. Tune in tonight on ESPN or join Eric Hassletine at Railgarten for a watch party, to learn the Grizzlies’ fate!

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