After months of hardships and headaches, the Memphis Grizzlies have officially wrapped up on what was their first playoff-less campaign in four years and their first sub-30 win season since 2017-18.
Considering they had won a total of 107 games over the last two seasons and were tabbed as a top-10 threat to take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy coming in, to say 2023-24 was a disappointment would be a major understatement.
Of course, with game 82 now in the rearview, the franchise can officially start setting its sights on bettering its odds of contending for a championship, and the first chance for them to do so will come this June during the 2024 NBA Draft.
Grizzlies could address several areas of weakness in 2024 NBA Draft
As things currently stand, the Grizzlies hold the rights to three total selections during the aforementioned early summer festivities, with their first-rounder now projected to fall at seventh overall and their latter two slated to come at 39 and 57.
Being they just registered the seventh-worst record in the entire association at 27-55, it should go without saying that Memphis will be looking to address many of their rotational weaknesses this offseason and, during the 2024 NBA Draft, they could nab a few players, in particular, who could help improve coach Taylor Jenkins' lineups and overall talent pool.
With this in mind, here is a look at how the night could play out.
7. Ron Holland
Since being established back in 2020, the G League Ignite have consistently produced highly-touted draft prospects who have been sought after within the early-to-mid lottery, with the most recent example being Scoot Henderson who was selected third overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in last year's class.
Ron Holland seems to be yet another intriguing talent coming out of the organization, and the wing-needy Grizzlies should already have their eyes on him as a realistic choice at seventh overall.
A tantalizing tweener forward who can guard multiple positions and finish among the trees on offense, the 18-year-old has the makings of becoming a lethal two-way player in the association should he fall into the right environment and, with the recent successes of both GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr., Memphis could certainly constitute as such a place.
In 15 games played with the Ignite, the former five-star recruit went on to drop all-around averages of 18.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks on 47.4 percent shooting from the floor.
Ron Holland's got NEXT!💪 Watch @gleagueignite prospect Ron Holland's top plays of the season before he participates in #PaniniRisingStars & #GLeagueUpNextGame at #NBAAllStar
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 3, 2024
Watch the G League Up Next Game presented by @att on Sunday, Feb. 18 @ 1:30PM/ET on YT & the NBA App! pic.twitter.com/PKfeGjqcTI
Though there will be fans who are hoping to see the Grizzlies nab a big man to fill in the vacancy down at the club's center position, with names like UConn's Donovan Clingan being mentioned as possible choices, a strong argument could also be made that, with such a high pick, the best course of action may be them simply gunning for the best player available.
With someone of his particular skill set and who thinks of himself as having the upside of a Jaylen Brown or Mikal Bridges at the next level, the idea of adding on such a talent may be too appealing to pass on.