Grizzlies: 3 prospects GM Zach Kleiman was right to pass on

The Memphis Grizzlies were originally positioned as the 17th-overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. General Manager Zach Kleiman had other plans, though, and shocked the world by sending Jonas Valanciunas to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for two bad contracts and a seven-spot jump in the draft.

In essence, Kleiman passed up on more than a handful of players with this move. Today, I’m going to look at three prospects that the Grizzlies’ general manager was right to pass on. The last one might surprise you.

The Memphis Grizzlies passed up on a prospect who is already older than half of the team’s roster

Player No. 1: Chris Duarte

As bad as it sounds to say, passing up on Duarte may have been the Grizzlies’ best move of the offseason. The Dominican basketball player has been stellar in Summer League, which will make fans think that Memphis made the wrong decision. That said, the Grizzlies should feel happy with this one.

Yes, he would have made the Grizzlies significantly better now, but older players have been known to plateau earlier in their NBA careers.

The Pacers’ new wing looks like a great pickup thus far, but at the age of 24, there’s only so much room for him to progress. If the Grizzlies had drafted him, he would have been older than eight players that are on the Grizzlies’ roster. That includes players like Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., De’Anthony Melton, Xavier Tillman, and others.

Yes, Duarte’s 42.4% long-range shooting percentage was tantalizing, but this would have been a bad fit.

Between trading away Valanciunas and passing up on Duarte, GM Zach Kleiman made a statement that he wants this team winning a championship down the road rather than receiving a second-round boot in the immediate future.