Memphis Grizzlies: This is the year to draft an underrated big at No. 17

If you read about the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2021 NBA Draft, you’ll read a lot about the wing position. Even though Memphis has a load of talent already at the wing spot, most experts believe that they can upgrade.

I, however, do not believe that they can get a substantial upgrade with the 17th-overall pick. Instead, the Grizzlies should be able to get a high-value underrated player at another position on the roster.

The draft is filled with wing talent. So much so that 11 of the picks projected to happen before Memphis gets their chance to draft will be wings. In my eyes, this narrows down the Grizzlies’ chances of picking up a strong player at that spot. No matter who they get, they would likely have to reach for that guy.

The Memphis Grizzlies could pick up a sneaky-good big man in a shallow draft class

Opposite to the wing position, the power forward and center positions are extremely thin in this year’s NBA Draft. In the CBS Sports’ top-17 players, only four of them are either a power forward or a center.

Part of this is the fact that the draft class is, in fact, a weak one for bigs. That said, it also seems extremely likely that there are more diamonds in the rough at the PF and C positions this year. Take a prospect that Beale Street Bears has already looked at for example.

Alperen Sengun is considered the 15th-best prospect in his class and the second-best center behind Evan Mobley. The Turkish center won his league’s MVP at the age of 18, making him an extremely intriguing prospect. He has “overlooked” written all over him.

Beyond Sengun, however, you’ll see a handful of other talented bigs like Kentucky’s Isaiah Jackson or Texas’s Kai Jones. Still, there isn’t a ton of available talent if you’re looking for a big.

Memphis has a decision to make. Do you want to roll the dice and get the 12th-best wing player in the 2021 NBA Draft class or do you want to make a statement and pick a strong big?

Last year, Memphis had one of the best centers in the league in Jonas Valanciunas and behind him, Xavier Tillman was one of the best rookies in his class. That said, there was a jarring lack of size, which seemed especially prevalent when the Grizzlies played teams like the Nuggets, who have strong players.

Another big-bodied power forward or center could go a long way for Memphis. Just because this year is “thin” at that position doesn’t mean that the Grizz should avoid it altogether.