2024 NBA Mock Draft: Grizzlies add key piece in lottery, Pistons get future star
By Tyler Watts
6. Memphis Grizzlies take Matas Buzelis
It is a lost season for Memphis. They made three straight playoff appearances, including twice finishing with the second-best regular season record in the Western Conference, but won just one playoff series. They hoped to reach the next level this year, but Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension and season-ending injury after just nine games ended that. Memphis won just six of their first 25 and figures to be firmly in the lottery.
The Grizzlies have talent, but they must nail this selection. Getting a top-ten pick is the only silver lining of their lost season. They have a talented young core but have missed on a few recent draft picks. Getting another key piece to complement Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. is a must if Memphis wants to be a true title contender.
Buzelis entered the season as the favorite to go second overall, but the 6’10 forward has had an up-and-down year with the G League Ignite. He has shown flashes of a versatile game, but the production has been inconsistent. The 19-year-old missed time with an ankle injury and remains difficult to project.
Through eight regular season games, Buzelis is averaging 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game. He has made just six of his first 31 3-point attempts, but getting a 6’10 forward capable of guarding multiple positions and handling the ball is not easy. The Memphis Grizzlies often draft for upside, and they take a shot on the potential of Matas Buzelis here.