Memphis Grizzlies: 5 biggest draft mistakes of the last decade

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 19: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Omari Casspi #18 of the Memphis Grizzlies defends during the second half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena of January 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images /

3. 2016 Draft: Pascal Siakam

The 2016 draft is going to be harder to explain away for the Memphis Grizzlies than the 2018 draft is. Where the Grizzlies were in need of a point guard back in 2018, they had less of a need in 2016. Not only that, but Memphis drafted another player later in the draft who didn’t even end up playing a single game in the NBA.

With the 17th pick, the Grizzlies selected Wade Baldwin, a player who only played one season with the Grizzlies and three seasons in the NBA. Oddly, Baldwin also went nearly 10 spots higher than projected, having been projected to go around the 26th pick, not two spots away from the lottery.

And it’s not like Siakam was some unheralded draft prospect with a lot of potential either (see: Luka Doncic). Siakam averaged 20.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game in his final season with the Aggies. And the Grizzlies could have used a backup power forward to help transition away from the Grit-‘N-Grind era.

Siakam has flourished under the mentorship of Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, and it looks like he’s only at the beginning of a long career. In only three years, Siakam has won one NBA Finals, been named Most Improved Player, and made the All-Star roster. Baldwin, in contrast, isn’t even in the league anymore.

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