Memphis Grizzlies NBA Draft Primer, Predictions

What will draft night look like for the Memphis Grizzlies?

The NBA draft is 24 hours away, as we’re close to seeing who Zach Kleiman brings in to join the Memphis Grizzlies organization, whether it’s a draft pick or a trade.

Let’s break it down.

What we know

• The Memphis Grizzlies have picks 25, 45, and 56.

• The Grizzlies have 14 of their 15 roster spots filled, and only 1 two-way spot open (Vince Williams Jr. and Jacob Gillyard).

• The Grizzlies are looking to be “very aggressive” trading up in the draft, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

• Tyus Jones is a trade candidate — Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports and Matt Moore of Action Networks

• The Grizzlies are dangling future first-round picks for a wing upgrade, and OG Anunoby is a name — Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto and Marc Stein.

Who’s worked out for Memphis

Per The Daily Memphian’s Drew Hill, here are notable names of players that have worked out for the Grizzlies:

• Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State

• Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara

• Maxwell Lewis, Pepperdine

• Jordan Walsh, Arkansas

• Colin Castleton, Florida

• Jalen Slawson, Furman

• Kendric Davis, Memphis

Drew’s article has the full list of players.

Related Listening and Podcasting

• Bilal Coulibaly prospect profile (so long, farewell, to that shot)

• Kris Murray prospect profile

• Brice Sensabaugh prospect profile

• 3 Arkansas players that could be good fits — Nick Smith Jr., Jordan Walsh, and Ricky Council IV

• What should Grizzlies do with 25th pick?

• Memphis Grizzlies’ second round outlook

Mock Draft Roundup

Memphis Grizzlies picks at 25, 45, 56

• ESPN: Rayan Rupert, NBL; Tristan Vukcevic, Partizan; Jordan Miller, Miami

• The Athletic: Colby Jones, Xavier; Adama Sanogo, UConn; Nadir Hifi, Le Portel (France)

• The Ringer: Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara; Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State; Mouhamed Gueye, Washington State

• NBA Big Board (first round only): Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State

• No Ceilings: Bilal Coulibaly, France; Amari Bailey, UCLA; Jordan Miller, Miami

• Box and One: Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara; Jalen Slawson, Furman; Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona

• CBS Sports (first round only): Brandin Podziesmki, Santa Clara

• Bleacher Report: Jaime Jacquez, UCLA; Jalen Pickett, Penn State; Jaylen Clarke, UCLA

Notes from my Board:

Prior to the draft, I usually make a big board of the top-60(ish), which started when I ran the Grizzly Bear Blues consensus big board. This board reflects my rankings with no basis on a Grizzlies board, as I usually weigh the ceiling, floor, realistic outcomes, and scalability.

I decided to do a top 63 (58 picks, 5 “undrafted”) — for something easier to read, reference my tweet.

1-15: (1) Victor Wembanyama, France (2) Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite (3) Brandon Miller, Alabama (4) Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite (5) Cam Whitmore, Villanova (6) Jarace Walker, Houston (7) Anthony Black, Arkansas (8) Cason Wallace, Kentucky (9) Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite (10) Taylor Hendricks, UCF (11) Gradey Dick, Kansas (12) Leonard Miller, G League Ignite (13) Bilal Coulibaly, France (14) Dereck Lively, Duke (15) Kobe Bufkin, Michigan

16-30: (16) Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana (17) Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State (18) Jordan Hawkins, UConn (19) Kris Murray, Iowa (20) Jett Howard, Michigan (21) Colby Jones, Xavier (22) Dariq Whitehead, Duke (23) Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas (24) Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara (25) Keyonte George, Baylor (26) Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Marquette (27) Jaime Jaquez, UCLA (28) Maxwell Lewis, Pepperdine (29) Sidy Cissoko, G League (30) Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

31-45: (31) Jordan Walsh, Arkansas (32) GG Jackson, South Carolina (33) Ben Sheppard, Belmont (34) Andre Jackson, UConn (35) James Nnaji, Spain (36) Noah Clowney, Alabama (37) Rayan Rupert, NBL (38) Marcus Sasser, Houston (39) Kobe Brown, Missouri (40) Amari Bailey, UCLA (41) Tristan Vukcevic, Serbia (42) Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State (43) Colin Castleton, Florida (44) Julian Strawther, Gonzaga (45) Hunter Tyson, Clemson

46-63: (46) Seth Lundy, Penn State (47) Julian Phillips, Tennessee (48) Oscar Tshiebwe, Kansas (49) Jalen Wilson, Kansas (50) Terquavion Smith, NC State (51) Mouhammed Gueye, Washington State (52) Isaiah Wong, Miami (53) Jordan Miller, Miami (54) Mike Miles, TCU (55) Ricky Council, Arkansas (56) Adama Sanogo, UConn (57) Drew Timme, Gonzaga (58) Jaylen Clark, UCLA (59) Jalen Pickett, Penn State (60) Sir'Jabari Rice, Texas (61) Emoni Bates, Eastern Michigan (62) Nadir Hifi, France (63) Nikos Ragkavopoulus, Greece

Quick Notes:

• Leonard Miller (12th) needs more lottery buzz. He averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds in the G League at just 19 years old. He’s a big forward with a 7’2” wingspan and a fascinating game off the dribble as a ball-handler. If he’s on the board for the Grizzlies, go best player available.

• Cason Wallace (8) — never bet against the Kentucky guard in the first round.

• Best plays outside the top 20 to return top-10 value: Dariq Whitehead and Nick Smith Jr. With Whitehead, I’m concerned about his injuries. Smith wasn’t healthy either and was inefficient at Arkansas, and his size doesn’t help him either.

• One of these defensive prospects will return top-20 value: Jordan Walsh, Andre Jackson, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Rayan Rupert. It all boils down to if any of their offensive games can catch up to their defense.

• My “not so high”: Keyonte George (25) — I have questions about his overall game and his ability to scale down, despite his undeniable scoring talent. GG Jackson — same as George, he needs a lot of refinement in his skillset as a decision-maker and overall player… very situation-dependent. Noah Clowney (36) — he’s supposed to be a stretch big that can switch, but he struggles as a shooter and defender.

3 Predictions

1. The Memphis Grizzlies get their starting small forward. The Memphis Grizzlies are aggressively pursuing a new starting 3 to replace Dillon Brooks. Tyus Jones is likely the trade asset to do so. I don’t think it’ll be OG Anunoby. However, there will be a big multi-team trade that brings De’Andre Hunter to Memphis, as the Grizzlies will have a 3 locked up for 4 years.

2. Their draft picks? Brandin Podziesmki, Jalen Slawson, and draft-and-stash at 56. I have skepticism over the Podziesmki pick, not for his skill but the information we have around the workout. The Grizzlies are usually quiet when it comes to “their guys,” but I won’t overthink it. Brandin Podziesmki fits the bill for past Grizzlies picks with his overall productivity and efficiency, and he fills a potential need as a prospect from the combo guard spot. Jalen Slawson is another “Grizz type” as well, who the Grizzlies could draft and sign to a two-way. Then, they’ll draft-and-stash a player with their other 2nd-round pick, to kick the can on their roster crunch.

3. The Grizzlies sign Kendric Davis to either a two-way or Exhibit 10 deal. The Grizzlies may need another point guard on the roster, but I doubt they’ll use a main roster spot on it. Instead, they’ll likely target a combo guard to be the “backup point guard” — whether it’s their first round or a veteran combo guard. With 18 rosters spots (15 + 3 two-way’s), they could have another point guard in case of emergency. Let’s roll with Memphis Tiger Kendric Davis — an older prospect who’s a hooper with less than ideal measurements, and he also has ties to the team through TCU teammate Desmond Bane.

Follow me on Twitter for updates throughout draft night.

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