What should the Memphis Grizzlies do with Delon Wright, Jevon Carter with Ja Morant in the mix?

The Memphis Grizzlies were fortunate to land the No.2 Pick in the NBA Draft. They are expected to select Ja Morant, but what does that mean for Delon Wright and Jevon Carter?

Here we are days after finding out the fate of the team’s future and the Memphis Grizzlies will be making the second pick of the 2019 NBA draft. A pick that all but guarantees us a new franchise player to be the face of the team going into the next generation along with Jaren Jackson Jr. Reports coming out Wednesday have the Memphis Grizzlies already informing other teams that they’re locked in to select Murray State’s own Ja Morant.

With that said the question I had in mind is, what happens with Delon Wright and Jevon Carter? Wright, in particular, has become an interesting story. After setting team triple-double records this year when finally given the keys he was fantastic. The sample size was small, but he was very impressive. Jevon Carter also ended the season with a bang posting career-high scoring games but his season stats show a struggle to make shots consistently.

Both guys mentioned before flashed potential with the more experienced Delon Wright showing more as a constant triple-double threat although again in a small sample. The thing is we’re running out of time to figure it out. He is set to become a restricted free agent and though the Grizzlies have the right to match, how high are the Grizzlies willing to go? Especially with Ja Morant in the mix.

Ja Morant is projected to be a combination of Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook. Yes, you read that correctly. The thing is, R.J. Barrett has been compared to Kobe Bryant by none other than back to back MVP and hall of fame point guard Steve Nash who rarely makes prospect comparisons publicly. The crazy thing is Barrett has a lifelong resume.

He has the size, skill, savvy, athleticism, aggression and statistics from his time at Duke as a freshman to validate such a lofty comparison. Morant is not only a star on the court but has the looks and persona to be a transcendent superstar off the court in mainstream media, which again translate into many other opportunities for all parties involved.

Now If Memphis is strictly looking to maximize every asset it has, some, not including myself, may wonder if Morant is necessarily the best fit on a team already very loaded at point guard, especially knowing the better fit with current assets in RJ Barrett will also be on the board when we pick. In my expertise, Barrett has the highest floor of the entire draft including his Duke teammate Zion Williamson.

Barrett is a high scoring all around wing who averaged virtually 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game on a super loaded Duke roster as a freshman. If he were to play alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. and Delon Wright that would still be fun to see. Matching or extending Delon Wright at market rate, along with Jevon auditioning to lead the franchise into the next generation alongside the Grizzlies young core is an alternative option that one can’t go wrong with.

Thing is that option may not generate the local fan buzz, publicity and thus revenue as the former option featuring Morant. Do we keep Delon Wright and audition him next to Morant or perhaps in a 6th man role? Or do you re-sign him as an asset in a later trade if he can be had at a bargain rate? Then what about Carter who is the younger and cheaper alternative to Delon Wright who may even get looks from other teams who struck out in free agency and that still need a starting point guard. So many scenarios and it may not be much time left. I haven’t mentioned Mike Conley until now because there’s about a 99.9999% chance he is traded this summer.

There are many veteran point guards or players who can guide Morant as a rookie professional so that doesn’t justify Conley. The other thing is I’m from the school of LaVar Ball in the sense that he doesn’t need any guidance or advice from Conley or really anybody for that matter. He knows what he’s doing and what has gotten him to this point. Besides Morant needs to know that it’s his and Jaren Jackson’s show now. Why not cash in on the value Conley still has and get more pieces that can potentially take us to the next step? Guess we’ll have to wait and see how the new regime thinks after the next head coach is hired.