Grizzlies prospect profiles and fits: Alex Sarr
If selected by the Memphis Grizzlies, Alex Sarr is a tantalizing two-way prospect that would add immediate value for a team looking to bounce back to title contention.
Alex Sarr, Big, France, Perth Wildcats (NBL)
Measurements: 7’1”
Age: 18 years old
Per-36 (via Tankathon): 19.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 3.1 blocks, 0.9 steals
Mock Draft placement (pre-lottery, some by standings, some by lottery simulation): 2 - Wizards (ESPN), 1 - Pistons (Tankathon), 1 - Raptors (The Ringer), 1 - Pistons (No Ceilings), 1 - Pistons (NBA Big Board), 2 - Wizards (The Athletic), 1 - Pistons (Bleacher Report)
Big Board placement: 2 (ESPN), 2 (Tankathon), 2 (The Ringer), 1 (No Ceilings), 1 (NBA Big Board), 1 (The Athletic)
Alexandre Sarr isn’t the typical “no brainer #1 pick” we’ve seen in the past — the bonafide cornerstone teams “tank” for. However, don’t let that assumption — or the narrative this is a “weak draft” — deter you from thinking Sarr is a great prospect. He’s emerged as a bonafide top prospect in this class due to his skillset and impact on the professional level for his age and size.
It became evident in the Las Vegas Showcase game between the Perth Wildcats and G League Ignite in September where he skyrocketed up the boards. He flashed his tantalizing two-way upside by wreaking havoc defensively as a shot-blocker and switcher — even taking on Ron Holland in stretches — and by expanding his offensive repertoire out to the perimeter.
Though Sarr wasn’t a starter or a primary focal point for the Perth Wildcats in the NBL, he still produced in a manner that warrants consideration as a top prospect in this year’s class.
Scouting Report
Looking at the Film
In the modern NBA, there’s a debate that is ongoing about what the role of a big man, though their responsibilities have expanded as position-less basketball becomes the expectation. And while no perfect answer exists, one fact remains - without a player capable of providing size and length, it will be difficult to contend for an NBA championship.
Despite his lack of traditional “big man” skills from a future center on a title hopeful, Alex Sarr is at the top of most draft boards. His combination of what the NBA needs, and what it may still be, is tantalizing to take in on film.
Alex Sarr is a sensational shot-blocker that aims to swat shot attempts with authority. His instincts are off the charts — timing his rotations, the shot attempts, and the verticality to block shots while avoiding fouls. Whether it’s as a rim protector or roamer, Sarr is omnipresent defensively — ready at a moment’s notice to blow up scoring opportunities.
More components of rim protection is altering and deterring shots away, an element of defense Sarr has captured at an early stage of his development. While he doesn’t have the strength to consistently handle 5’s down low, this skill is useful for him to offset.
The catalyst for Sarr’s defense is how he much space he can cover.
As a big man that can cover so much space, he can stick on drivers because of his quick feet and fluid hip movement. He can scrabble in rotations — X’ing out to the corner for contests, retreating to the post, or covering perimeter players.
His defense in space triggers his prowess as a help defender. Sarr’s speed with help defense taps into his potential as a rim-roamer — a role we’ve seen Jaren Jackson Jr., among other modern big men, succeed in with similar tools.
Switching is an important skill in today’s NBA, but it’s even more pivotal to be scheme versatility. Sarr is a big man that can legitimately drop, come at the level of the screen, or switch onto perimeter players. And because of Sarr’s movement as a defender in space, he’s a big that can be a force when defending perimeter players for durations of the possession.
Sarr’s playmaking is under the radar because of his assist numbers, especially since his assist-to-turnover ratio is neutral. However, it’s a skill that could be unlocked over the course of the career. He made some great reads out of the short roll, the post, and “Delay” sets — usually seeking out shooters in the corner. Granted, some of these shots didn’t fall, but the decision-making in these instances could allow Sarr to become a much more dynamic offensive player.
Even with untapped upside as a playmaker, Sarr is likely going to be more of a play-finisher at the early phase of his career — especially in Memphis. So usually, he'll be slotted in the dunker’s spot, in the corner (where he can cut along the baseline), or in delay to initiate screen-and-roll actions. As he expands his game, he’ll look to leverage his size and fluidity to finish above the rim or over the defense.
While he has the tools to be a great play-finisher, it’ll be a process for him in the early going. He struggles a bit in the midst of contact, as he needs to add more strength to his frame. It’s the most evident in the pick-and-roll, as he only generated 0.778 points per possession (45 possessions) as the roll man, per Synergy Sports. Something to note as a pick-and-roll big man, he doesn’t generate enough screen contact — as he’s more of a ghost screener or slipper. It’s fine to do, but he has to become more impactful as a finisher to amplify his prowess as a screen-and-roller.
Another component of play-finishing is offensive rebounding. Though he’s a subpar overall rebounder, mainly due to strength and box-out contact, his size and athleticism makes him a real weapon on the offensive glass (3 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes).
Alex Sarr can be a devastating rim-running big man, as he runs the open floor like gazelle as a lane runner or a ball-handler.
Sarr’s driving will come and go in the early going, as there are moments he’s still barrels down the lane without much control. Nonetheless, he flashed real off-the-dribble flashes — most evident in his spin move, euro step, and gather steps.
Sarr didn’t have a good shooting season at Perth, but his indicators as a free throw shooter are pretty good. His mechanics are solid, though there could be a more consistent up-and-down motion on his outside jumper. He’s tested out fadeaway jumpers, which is a sweet development, but he has to make sure his body is squared to some degree on these finishes — especially as he’s gaining lower body strength.
Fit with the Grizzlies
If you want the Grizzlies to blend the idea of adding a sizable big man while adopting more 5-out principles, Sarr is the pick to roll with. With Sarr, the Grizzlies will have another 7-footer alongside Jaren Jackson Jr., and they’d create an interchangeable dynamic.
It will shine more defensively, where Sarr’s potential is immense. The best model to look at when gauging the defensive fit between Jackson and Sarr is to look at the defensive pairing with Jackson and Clarke. Since drafting Clarke in 2019, per PBP Stats, the Grizzlies have a 107.8 defensive rating with him and Jackson on the floor together — typically the rate of a top-5 defense. It works, because Jackson and Clarke can serve in a multitude of defensive roles in an interchangeable manner, while covering a lot of space on the floor. With Sarr, the Grizzlies would have two 7-footers that are lightning quick in defending in space.
Interchangeability comes in multiple ways. The matchup could call for Sarr and Jackson to swap covering the 4 or the 5, though the veteran will likely be guarding 5’s as the rookie adds more muscle. They can also switch out on the perimeter better. They can toggle between who’s serving at the center of the defense (the rim protector typically in ball screens), and who’s roaming the rim ready to swat shots into oblivion with help defense.
Pairing Alex Sarr with Jaren Jackson Jr., Marcus Smart, and Vince Williams Jr. would create the infrastructure to be a top defense for quite some time — and as soon as next season.
More than other lottery team in the fold, Alex Sarr could gradually grow with a minimal role offensively. He can space out into the corner — crashing the paint as a baseline cutter, or lurking in the dunker’s spot. He will need to improve as a shooter to optimize this scenario as well. This idea would open up more 2-man game possibilities with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr, where the All-Star big man would operate in more Delay and Split actions.
Playing alongside playmakers like Morant, Bane, and Smart would gift Sarr easier scoring opportunities. He’d be more of a play-finisher instead of creating or having offense run for him. I don’t want to dispel the notion of growth over time, especially given Sarr’s upside as a driver and passer. However, the pressure on him to be high up in the offensive pecking order will be low in Memphis, providing a steady developmental runway. Granted, it’s not what you ask for with the 1st or 2nd pick, but Memphis’ situation is different than most lottery years in a typical draft year.
While Sarr achieves the goal of acquiring a big man, and strikes modern versatility, the Grizzlies could turn additional frountcourt and wing depth into a pure center that can handle traditional big man responsibilities. Nonetheless, Sarr would give the Grizzlies some enticing frontcourt possibilities — Jackson and Sarr, Sarr and Clarke, Sarr and GG Jackson, and Sarr and Santi Aldama.
Alex Sarr is the caliber of prospect that can help the Grizzlies’ bounce-back campaign immediately, and that could grow into a high-level 2-way complement next to a Morant-Jackson-Bane core.
Final note: If the Grizzlies get the #1 pick in the draft lottery, Alex Sarr should be their guy. He has the tools to become an elite defender, and to create an unbelievable frontcourt dynamic with former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. And while he has room to grow as an offensive weapon, he steps into a situation where his role can be simplified as he develops. People will say that this draft is “weak” or “bad,” but landing a prospect like Alex Sarr would be a home run for the Memphis Grizzlies — a squad looking for more frontcourt help.
If you choose to support my Substack, SubTsakalidis — aka “SubTsak” — follow this link to my Allie’s Allies St. Jude fundraiser page. If you choose to subscribe, all proceeds will go towards St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.