Memphis Grizzlies Mock Draft 1.0: Who should team target in 2022 Draft?
The 2022 NBA Draft order is officially set and we now know the Memphis Grizzlies will own picks No. 22 and No. 29 in the first round. They’ll also have pick No. 47 in the middle of the second round.
There was an ever so slight chance the team was going to land a pick somewhere in the range of 11-14 via the Los Angeles Lakers, but there was only a 0.4% chance that would happen. The pick ended up conveying to the New Orleans Pelicans since the pick fell between 1 and 10.
Since the pick conveyed to New Orleans, the Grizzlies will be awarded two second-round picks. The first will come to the Grizzlies this year from the Cleveland Cavaliers (pick No. 47). The other second-round pick will come from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2025.
The 2022 NBA Draft is set for June 23, 2022 in Chicago.
Let’s take a look at some prospects the Grizzlies could be targeting, assuming they keep these three picks.
Who will the Memphis Grizzlies pick at No. 22 in the NBA Draft?
Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee
Age: 19
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 171 lbs
Position: PG
Freshman point guard and Memphis native Kennedy Chandler would be an excellent pick for the Memphis Grizzlies.
With Ja Morant not playing full, 82-game seasons, and Tyus Jones likely on his way out as an unrestricted free agent, the team needs a talented backup on the roster next season.
Chandler, who averaged 13.9 PPG, 4.7 APG and 3.2 RPG as a freshman for the Tennessee Volunteers, won the SEC Tournament MVP a showcased that he’s a dynamic athlete that can score from all three levels.
There are concerns about his size (just six-feet tall), but the Grizzlies have a knack for drafting players that don’t pass “the eye test” in the Zach Kleiman era.
Chandler has a ton of talent and plays great defense. Who better to (likely) replace Tyus Jones than with an upgrade like Chandler?
His game has shades of Darius Garland, Tyreese Maxey and Jameer Nelson, according to The Ringer. That’s an exciting mix of talent to have playing under, with or in place of Ja Morant for the next few seasons.