The Grizzlies may opt to add a veteran instead of a potential at No. 9.
After finishing 27-55 this season, a casual observer would have assumed that the Memphis Grizzlies were entering a rebuilding phase. However, the squad is said to be approaching the 2017 NBA Draft as a contender.
Memphis is reportedly considering to trade out of the No. 9 pick in the draft while star guard Ja Morant recovers from a shoulder injury, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe.
“The Grizzlies are expected to explore the potential return for the No. 9 pick, sources said,” Lowe stated. “That does not mean they will end up trading that pick or opting out of the lottery.” Sources claimed they’ll check into everything. However, if their core returns healthy next season, they should be able to challenge at the top of the Western Conference after a year off. It seems sense to see what kind of veteran aid a trade can bring in.
To complete a deal, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman must analyze all offers and alternatives. Getting the most value out of the pick is critical, as it might help extend the team’s championship window.
What will Memphis do?
The Grizzlies are unlikely to get a star prospect from the NBA Draft
The Grizzlies were unlucky to receive the ninth pick after finishing with the league’s seventh-worst record. Kleiman and colleagues may have been more likely to keep the pick if they were in a better position and the draft class was deeper. According to Drew Hill of The Daily Memphian, it may not be worth sticking in a lower position if a top-tier prospect is not available.
“You do wonder if it increases the odds that this pick could get traded,” Hill stated. “I believe that may happen if their guy is not available at that stage in the draft. I’m sure they did their homework. They’ve sorted out who they like, but without moving up, it’s hard to know in a draft like one where there’s no obvious consensus top tier.
While this class is talented, there is no clear top prospect. None of the players are considered generational talents. According to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, the majority of the top ten players’ ceilings are All-Star, not superstar.
“In some capacity, all of the players ranked in my top 10 have a non-zero chance to go No. 1 overall if things break right in terms of the draft lottery and they have a strong pre-draft process,” Vecenie stated. “There are players in this class who have a much greater chance of going first than others, but NBA teams are spread out. Because there is no one-size-fits-all candidate, teams are conducting extensive research across the board. I can’t recall a class where the lottery had such an impact on how the top students were chosen.”
With Morant, Marcus Smart, and Desmond Bane all returning, Kleiman may be better off using the choice as a trade piece to bolster the roster right away rather than waiting for an average-level first-round talent to emerge. The Grizzlies won 107 games in the previous two seasons when healthy, so there’s no reason to believe they can’t return to the top of the West with better injury luck.
