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Just How Bright is the Memphis Grizzlies’ Future as it Currently Stands?

By Christian Dudley

MEMPHIS, TN - FEBRUARY 12: Jaren Jackson #13 and Jevon Carter #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies react to a play during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 12, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - FEBRUARY 12: Jaren Jackson #13 and Jevon Carter #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies react to a play during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 12, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Memphis Grizzlies
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The Bad

When considering the Memphis Grizzlies’ future — especially during a full-on rebuilding effort — you absolutely have to consider future NBA Draft picks. For teams that do not typically draft well (such as the Grizzlies), this is a potential danger zone.

For Memphis, they do not own a second-round pick in June of 2019. Plus, they may not own this year’s first-rounder either. That is essentially all that the Grizzlies are playing for as the 2018-19 NBA season winds down over the next few weeks.

Memphis must finish in the bottom nine-to-14 range if they wish to convey. With just nine games remaining on their schedule, the Grizz are running out of time. They are in a tie with the Dallas Mavericks at 29-44, leaving just five teams worse than Memphis. Each loss from now until April 10th will make the “Journey to Convey” even more difficult. In looking at the picture with nine games to play, it feels almost impossible to convey the pick to the Boston Celtics this season.

Related Story. Memphis Grizzlies: 3 Days of Rest Could Bear Bad News for 2019 NBA Draft Pick Conveyance. light

If the Memphis Grizzlies retain their pick this June, it will then convey to Boston in 2020. If not 2020, then it will absolutely have to convey to the Celtics in 2021. Draft picks have the potential to jump-start a franchise, and it would definitely hurt to not own one this summer. Of course there is the possiblity of trading assets (large contracts) for picks, but it is currently impossible to predict the trade market that will be open at Draft Night.

Beyond 2019, the Memphis Grizzlies do not currently own a pair of picks until 2022, where they actually own three selections in total (one first-rounder, two second-rounders). It is hard to imagine what exactly the roster will look like at that point, but hopefully Jaren Jackson Jr. is embarking upon NBA All-Star status at that point. It would be amazing if this trio of picks would take place in 2020, where the potential exists for a “dual Draft” of sorts. Perhaps the Grizzlies will have some magic up their sleeves to swing that possibility?

As far as picks and the NBA Draft are concerned, Memphis does not have much in their arsenal. Therefore, they are really needing their prospects to pan out. Still, this may be a more favorable route to take considering how poor the Front Office has been with Draft Night selections (with the exception of a select few). A change in General Manager may be the best course of action the Grizzlies could take in regard to the NBA Draft.

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