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Memphis Grizzlies: Draft Preview

By Chris Kern

NEW YORK - JUNE 20: NBA Draft Prospect, Marvin Bagley III poses for portraits during media availability and circuit as part of the 2018 NBA Draft on June 20, 2018 at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK - JUNE 20: NBA Draft Prospect, Marvin Bagley III poses for portraits during media availability and circuit as part of the 2018 NBA Draft on June 20, 2018 at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies have a big day ahead on Thursday with the draft. This could determine the outlook of the team’s next 10 years or so. They need to find a way to get a star for the future.

They want to try and make the playoffs again with Conley and Gasol but they need to consider the future first and foremost in any decisions.

Some even want the Grizzlies to attach this pick to a deal to get out of Parsons contract. I think that would be a terrible idea. Even if we did that to get out of his contract who would we sign? We could maybe get enough good players to sneak into the playoffs and lose first round. It isn’t worth it though.

The Grizzlies need to get a future star with this fourth pick and get another solid player for the future in the second round too. They got Dillon Brooks last year, so let’s see if they can get another steal in that round this year.

Who Are The Ideal Prospects For The Grizzlies To Pick?

Grizzlies fans would love the chance to get either Marvin Bagley or Luka Doncic. They seem to be considered the 2nd and 3rd best prospects by most. The Grizzlies would be ecstatic to get either one of those two guys with the 4th pick.

WIZINK CENTER, MADRID, SPAIN – 2018/05/27: Luka Doncic during Real Madrid victory over Iberostar Tenerife (83 – 73) in Liga Endesa playoff 1st round (game 1) celebrated in Madrid at Wizink Center. May 27th 2018. (Photo by Juan Carlos García Mate/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
WIZINK CENTER, MADRID, SPAIN – 2018/05/27: Luka Doncic during Real Madrid victory over Iberostar Tenerife (83 – 73) in Liga Endesa playoff 1st round (game 1) celebrated in Madrid at Wizink Center. May 27th 2018. (Photo by Juan Carlos García Mate/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Jaren Jackson could be the pick at four but many fans wouldn’t like that pick. They could also look into Michael Porter Jr but with all his health concerns you’d like to avoid that at #4.

If you’re a Memphis Grizzlies fan I wouldn’t get your hopes up that one of those two guys drop. Over the past couple of days, Bagley has started to be rumored to #2 to the Kings while the Hawks at #3 have started to focus in on Doncic. This would become a terrible situation for Memphis on draft night.

I’m not sure who the Grizzlies prefer out of Marvin Bagley and Luka Doncic, and I doubt we ever find out. They’ll take whoever they can get there. If all of the top three guys are gone like most mock drafts are starting to predict then maybe the Grizzlies actually would make a move. Which leads us to our next section. Will the Grizzlies make a draft day trade?

Draft Day Trade?

The Memphis Grizzlies are going to strongly consider making a draft day trade. They seem to be interested in moving the pick as long as any receiving teams would be interested in taking on Chandler Parsons and his contract.

Some of these teams that are interested probably aren’t interested in taking on Parsons contract. Any team that is willing to take on Parsons’ contract probably isn’t gonna want to give much value back in return.

The Chicago Bulls are an interesting team to keep an eye on. They have the 7th and 22nd pick as well as some solid young players who could be used in a deal. The Grizzlies could consider trading down with a team like the Bulls to get a guy like Wendall Carter Jr.

OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Wendell Carter Jr #34 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots the ball against Silvio De Sousa #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks during overtime in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Wendell Carter Jr #34 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots the ball against Silvio De Sousa #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks during overtime in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

The Clippers have the 12th and 13th pick and some solid veteran players who could be used in a deal. The could look to add a guy like Tobias Harris to one of those picks to get a potential deal done.

All these teams have pros and cons for why the Grizzlies should, or shouldn’t make a deal with them. Whichever team is most willing to give back value while also taking on Parsons contract will have a legit shot to get a deal done with the Grizzlies.

Predictions

It’s gonna be hard to predict what is exactly is going to happen, but it’s still fun to try. The Grizzlies are in an interesting spot but with Ayton, Bagley and Doncic projected to go 1,2 and 3, the Grizzlies could make a deal; and I think they will do just that.

The Memphis Grizzlies will trade back with the Chicago Bulls to select Wendell Carter Jr with the 7th pick. The main parts of the deal would be swapping the fourth and seventh pick with the Bulls taking on Chandler Parsons contract.

The Grizzlies will also select Jevon Carter with the 32nd pick. He’s a tough guard out of West Virginia who will have a long career in this league. He’s a great defender who will be able to give opponents fits right away.

They could also consider trading into the second round again for another pick but I don’t think they will. Drafting Wendell Carter and Jevon Carter while dumping Parsons would be a very successful draft for the Memphis Grizzlies.

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