One of the biggest questions surrounding the Grizzlies' draft is if they will stay at #16 or attempt to move up. The Grizzlies will likely come away with a franchise-changing talent at #3, but the #16 pick, whether it's a trade-up or the Grizzlies staying at the pick, is a huge opportunity to improve the roster. Even though trading up makes sense, the Grizzlies can still land a quality player at #16.
If the Grizzlies stay put at #16, here are three options to consider.
1. Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, there will likely be skepticism from some fans due to Okorie being a shorter guard. However, there is still plenty to like about his game. Okorie had an extremely productive freshman season at Stanford, averaging 23.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. While it would be ideal for him to have more assists, Okorie had a very high usage rate and did well to suppress turnovers.
Even though he shot 35.4% from three, Okorie is an impressive driver to the basket and hit 83% of his free throws on a high free throw rate (FTr). It cannot be ruled out that he makes a shooting leap at the next level. Despite height concerns, Okorie recorded a 6-foot-7.75-inch wingspan at the combine and is a willing defender. Okorie could end up being a great value pick at #16 for the Grizzlies.
2. Dailyn Swain, F, Texas
Probably one of my most intriguing prospects of the entire 2026 NBA Draft class. This past season, Dailyn Swain averaged 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 stocks (steals and blocks) as a junior at Texas. Listed at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, Swain is an effective downhill driver and carries plenty of athletic and defensive upside that the Grizzlies would benefit from.
Swain will have to improve as a perimeter shooter and keep getting better at making an offensive impact off the ball. Even with those concerns, his driving ability paired with the high-level defense he has shown makes it easy to believe he can be a winning player in the NBA. The Grizzlies need to swing for upside in a stacked draft class, and Swain fits that to perfection.
3. Hannes Steinbach, F/C, Washington
Similar to Ebuka Okorie at Stanford, Hannes Steinbach was a highly productive player in a less than ideal situation at Washington. Listed at 6-foot-10 and 248 pounds, Steinbach is a great fit that could help the Grizzlies dominate the possession battle. Steinbach averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.3 stocks in 30 games as a freshman.
Steinbach is a tenacious rebounder and plays with the physicality that Grizzlies fans would appreciate right away. He is also an efficient scorer inside the arc and another quality screener the team could use. It will be important for him to improve as a perimeter shooter, and figuring out his best position defensively can be a concern. However, he has an intriguing skillset that can help the Grizzlies right away.
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