Many Grizzlies fans would've loved to see the team select Isaiah Evans with the 32nd overall pick. Instead, BYU's Richie Saunders was the selection, which drew some mixed reactions. With the Grizzlies inevitably facing a roster crunch, it seems likely that Saunders will start his NBA career on a two-way contract, thus making it a little easier to justify the selection.
It is important to note that Richie Saunders is still recovering from an ACL tear that he suffered in February and that he will be 25 years old when he finally makes his NBA debut. Given those facts, frustration within the fanbase is completely justified. However, the Richie Saunders selection should not be written off quite yet, as there is still plenty to like.
In fact, the pick could end up being more valuable than many originally expected.
Richie Saunders has the skills that can contribute to winning
Even though Saunders will be an older rookie coming off a serious injury, the impact he can potentially have on the Grizzlies should not be dismissed. With how early the Grizzlies are in their rebuild, it is entirely understandable to want younger players with upside.
On the flip side, sometimes it is a good thing to take a player that can contribute immediately, regardless of age and potential. That could easily end up being the case with Richie Saunders in Memphis. Obviously, Saunders will miss some time early in the season as he continues to recover from ACL surgery, but it is easy to envision his skillset directly helping the Grizzlies win more games.
AJ Dybantsa, who just went #1 overall in this draft, understandably drew most of the attention, but Richie Saunders was arguably the second most impactful player on the team. Saunders was having a strong senior season before the injury, averaging 18 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2 stocks (steals and blocks) per game.
But beyond stats, it is not a coincidence that BYU struggled the rest of the season after Richie Saunders went down in February. When watching him, he is a player who makes a strong impact that the box score will not always show.
Saunders brings an extremely impressive motor and could be the perfect off-ball shooter that the Grizzlies need in this rebuild. He was a career 38.7% three-point shooter at BYU and consistently showed impressive off-ball movement. Even with concerns about his physical tools and his recent injury, Saunders can still create some rim pressure.
The Saunders pick could end up being an underrated move
It will be interesting to monitor how Saunders looks coming off injury, but if he is close to his previous self, the Grizzlies may end up adding to their strong track record of second-round picks under Zach Kleiman.
The Cam Boozer pick is understandably generating the most hype. Selecting Karim Lopez and trading for Isaiah Stewart signals a strong shift towards becoming the bigger and stronger team that Zach Kleiman wants.
While those moves are exciting, the Richie Saunders pick should not end up being overlooked in the process.
Add us as a preferred source on Google