The 2022 draft class for the Memphis Grizzlies might be the most Jekyll and Hyde class you can find. The team entered the draft with three draft picks, including two first-round picks coming off a surprising but successful season when they took the eventual NBA champions Golden State Warriors to six games in their second-round defeat.
Heading into that offseason, the team looked to shore up their depth with younger talent with cheaper contracts and made draft moves based on that assumption. They packaged their two late first-round picks to trade up and select Wake Forest forward Jake LaRavia with the 19th overall pick to replace their upcoming free agent Kyle Anderson.
Then, they traded away top reserve guard De'Anthony Melton to the Philadelphia 76ers to get back into the first round and selected Colorado State forward David Roddy to add to their young wing rotation. Next, looking ahead to the future with upcoming free agent guard Tyus Jones (whom they re-signed) the Grizzlies traded a future second-round pick to gain an additional 2022 second-round pick to select sliding University of Tennessee point guard Kennedy Chandler.
The Grizzlies used their final draft pick on VCU wing Vince Williams Jr. as a developmental 3-and-D prospect followed by signing undrafted Louisiana Tech big man Kenneth Lofton Jr., who impressed in the Summer League. Let's view where these players are in their careers two-and-a-half years later..
Jake LaRavia and Vince Williams Jr. remain on the Grizzlies
While LaRavia and Williams Jr. are the only remaining members of their 2022 draft, their roles are different from what was expected of them on draft night. Although Vince Williams Jr. has only played three games this season due to injuries, he figures to play a more prominent role than LaRavia after his transcendence last season as the 3-and-D enforcer to replace former Grizzlies' forward Dillon Brooks' intensity.
Also, Vince Williams Jr. is locked up on a four-year $9.1M contract as opposed to the expriing contract of Jake LaRavia, who has been succesful this season after a slow start to his career.
David Roddy is playing sparingly with the Atlanta Hawks
David Roddy was the wing that showed more value to the Grizzlies in his rookie season as he was the only member of the draft class to crack the playoff rotation in their series against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, that success took a step back as he failed to stand out in his sophomore campaign last season leading to the Grizzlies trading him at the trade deadline to the Phoenix Suns
After barely playing for the playoff contending Phoenix Suns last season, Roddy was traded to the Atlanta Hawks last summer and is currently averaging only 12.9 minutes per game.
Kennedy Chandler and Kenneth Lofton Jr. are out of the NBA
Information changed quickly on Kennedy Chandler's career as the Grizzlies waived the rookie point guard before their season ended after signing him to a four-year contract, including the highest guaranteed salary for a second-round draft pick ($4.94M).
The Grizzlies needed a big man after their season-ending injuries to Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke with a full roster, and Chandler was the innocent bystander to allow them to sign Kenneth Lofton Jr. from his two-way contract for the playoffs that season. Kennedy Chandler hasn't played a single NBA minute since his time with the Memphis Grizzlies and is currently with the Toronto Raptors G League affiliate, the Raptors 905.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. experienced arguably the most successful rookie campaign of their draft as he won the NBA G League's Rookie of the Year during the 2022-23 season, and earned a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies shortly afterward. As a fan favorite, "Junior" suffered the same fate as the player he replaced in December 2023 when the Grizzlies had to waive someone when Ja Morant returned from his 25-game suspension.
He signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers before being waived in March and continuing his career with the Utah Jazz. However, he was released by the Jazz in July last year and signed with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association in October 2024.