Grizzlies Position Preview: Wings

3. Bruno Caboclo

An incredibly long, athletic player, Bruno Caboclo was dubbed the “Brazilian Kevin Durant” on draft night back in 2014. Since that time, his length is the only thing that’s resembled Durant. That said, Caboclo looks as if he’s beginning to figure things out after a tough start to his career.

Caboclo will serve as a Swiss Army Knife for the Grizzlies this year. At 6’9″ with an incredible 7’7″ wingspan, Caboclo saw minutes at positions 3-5 in preseason, and handled them well. His length allows him to be a defensive menace, constantly altering shots and deflecting passes. He averaged 1.8 blocks and 1 steal in the preseason, while only committing about 2 fouls. If those numbers translate to the regular season, the Grizzlies have the potential to put some incredible defensive lineups on the court.

Caboclo has also made strides offensively during his time in Memphis. In 34 games last season, he showed off an improved shooting touch, hitting 37% from three on just under 4 attempts per game. That improvement appears to be for real, as he shot 38% this preseason. Being able to stretch the floor will make lineups with him at the 4 or 5 viable.

The key for Caboclo is playing within his role. He’s always been a confident player, but that has led to some questionable decisions on the court. If he understands his value, and where he’s most effective, he should serve as a solid contributor for Memphis.