Thanks to the Grizzlies securing top 6 lottery odds, the possibilities remain endless leading up to the NBA draft lottery on May 10. Sam Vecenie's latest mock draft for The Athletic has the Grizzlies selecting North Carolina's Caleb Wilson 4th overall. In this scenario, the Grizzlies take the ideal upside swing the fanbase hopes to see this summer.
This is one of the best outcomes possible for Grizzlies fans. Even though it seems likely that AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, and Darryn Peterson in some order will be the top 3, it can strongly be argued that Caleb Wilson is worthy of top 3 consideration as well.
Despite having his freshman (and lone) season at North Carolina cut short due to season-ending right thumb surgery, it's easy to see why Caleb Wilson has star potential in the NBA. In this scenario, Wilson would form an absolutely devastating frontcourt with Zach Edey from Day 1.
Wilson is an upside boost Grizzlies fans should hope for
In 24 games, Caleb Wilson was extremely productive, averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 31.3 minutes. He also stood out as a defensive playmaker, averaging 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Vecenie writes, "It’s all about power and explosiveness for Wilson. He plays with terrific bend and balance as a driver. Combine that with his strength and leaping ability, and you get a special player who can dominate at the rim."
Caleb Wilson has the perfect blend of high-end athleticism while already being so productive in his only season of college basketball. He is a rebounding machine and a strong finisher at the rim. Even though Wilson will have to work on his three-point shooting and improve his off-ball defense, he already has all the tools to make an immediate NBA impact.
Caleb Wilson can build the culture of the new era in Memphis
One clear lesson from the recent Next Gen Era is that the Grizzlies need to boost their culture and find players that are not afraid of big moments. Despite being a freshman, Caleb Wilson was the vocal leader that the Tar Heels needed, and it is not a surprise that they struggled in postseason play without him.
To make matters better for the Grizzlies, Wilson really embraced playing against Cam Boozer and Darryn Peterson and outperformed both. The Grizzlies are chasing teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, and it will be essential to find players that embrace the challenge of playing those teams.
The Next Gen Era, when healthy, had plenty of regular season success, but the Grizzlies have won just one playoff series in the last seven seasons. Winning regular season games certainly matters, but the Grizzlies can't also lose sight of finding players that are built for playoff basketball.
Caleb Wilson's terrifying upside paired with his leadership skills could bode well for him being a high-end playoff player in Memphis. The Grizzlies have plenty of great options to consider in a stacked 2026 NBA Draft, but Caleb Wilson would certainly be the upside boost fans would love to see.
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