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CHICAGO — A major domino fell for the Memphis Grizzlies on May 10 — one that could reshape their entire offseason.
Projected to have the sixth-best odds at landing a top pick, the Grizzlies vaulted to No. 3 in the NBA draft lottery. The jump places them in prime position to land a potential star in what is widely viewed as one of the strongest classes in recent years.
Now that their slot is set, the rest of the offseason picture can begin to take form. The Grizzlies hold three picks in the top 35 and face several key decisions on current roster pieces who might not align with the franchise’s long-term timeline.
Here are answers to five pressing questions Memphis faces after the draft lottery:
The primary names in this conversation are power forwards Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. Their games differ stylistically in several ways, which makes it difficult to determine a clear front-runner.
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson theoretically could slide past the second pick if teams have concerns about his injury history, but that currently seems unlikely. More realistically, Memphis likely will choose between Boozer and Wilson.
Boozer appears to be the cleaner fit based on the current roster construction. He averaged more than 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists at Duke, showcasing a versatile offensive skill set.
Wilson’s production and film are also highly impressive, but Boozer’s potential alongside 7-foot-3 center Zach Edey could create matchup nightmares for opponents. Boozer’s strength and footwork stand out most at power forward, and many NBA teams may struggle to match up physically with a 6-9, 250-pound forward in that role. Memphis could put him in position to succeed early.
Memphis is expected to be exhaustive in its evaluations. With picks No. 3, 16 and 32, it has the flexibility to work out and assess a wide range of prospects.
The process has already begun. The Grizzlies started working potential draft targets last week, and it will continue leading up to the June 23-24 draft. Picks No. 16 and 32 also provide flexibility for trades, whether that means moving up or down depending on how the board develops. Recent history suggests Memphis is comfortable being aggressive, as evidenced by last season’s move from No. 16 to No. 11 to acquire Cedric Coward.
Landing a top-three pick strengthens general manager Zach Kleiman’s case that this won’t be a prolonged rebuild. In a draft class this strong, the expectation is that a top-three selection could become a future All-Star.
If Edey and Coward remain healthy long term, the third overall pick could complement them well.
Financially, Memphis is also in a solid position. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brandon Clarke are set to be on expiring contracts next season, combining for more than $34 million. Ja Morant has two years remaining on his contract and is due more than $42 million next season, though his name has surfaced in trade speculation since January.
Because Memphis is unlikely to target a point guard with the No. 3 pick, keeping Morant would make sense from a roster standpoint — but his long-term future remains uncertain.
Morant is one of the last remaining faces of the previous core. The Grizzlies are expected to continue evaluating his trade market value as they explore building around a new foundation centered on the No. 3 pick, Edey and Coward.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies moves, Ja Morant trade outlook before NBA draft
Continue reading...
Projected to have the sixth-best odds at landing a top pick, the Grizzlies vaulted to No. 3 in the NBA draft lottery. The jump places them in prime position to land a potential star in what is widely viewed as one of the strongest classes in recent years.
Now that their slot is set, the rest of the offseason picture can begin to take form. The Grizzlies hold three picks in the top 35 and face several key decisions on current roster pieces who might not align with the franchise’s long-term timeline.
Here are answers to five pressing questions Memphis faces after the draft lottery:
Which players will Memphis consider at No. 3?
The primary names in this conversation are power forwards Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. Their games differ stylistically in several ways, which makes it difficult to determine a clear front-runner.
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson theoretically could slide past the second pick if teams have concerns about his injury history, but that currently seems unlikely. More realistically, Memphis likely will choose between Boozer and Wilson.
Which player best fits the Grizzlies’ roster outlook?
Boozer appears to be the cleaner fit based on the current roster construction. He averaged more than 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists at Duke, showcasing a versatile offensive skill set.
Wilson’s production and film are also highly impressive, but Boozer’s potential alongside 7-foot-3 center Zach Edey could create matchup nightmares for opponents. Boozer’s strength and footwork stand out most at power forward, and many NBA teams may struggle to match up physically with a 6-9, 250-pound forward in that role. Memphis could put him in position to succeed early.
How will the Grizzlies approach the draft process?
Memphis is expected to be exhaustive in its evaluations. With picks No. 3, 16 and 32, it has the flexibility to work out and assess a wide range of prospects.
The process has already begun. The Grizzlies started working potential draft targets last week, and it will continue leading up to the June 23-24 draft. Picks No. 16 and 32 also provide flexibility for trades, whether that means moving up or down depending on how the board develops. Recent history suggests Memphis is comfortable being aggressive, as evidenced by last season’s move from No. 16 to No. 11 to acquire Cedric Coward.
What does this mean for Memphis’ timeline?
Landing a top-three pick strengthens general manager Zach Kleiman’s case that this won’t be a prolonged rebuild. In a draft class this strong, the expectation is that a top-three selection could become a future All-Star.
If Edey and Coward remain healthy long term, the third overall pick could complement them well.
Financially, Memphis is also in a solid position. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brandon Clarke are set to be on expiring contracts next season, combining for more than $34 million. Ja Morant has two years remaining on his contract and is due more than $42 million next season, though his name has surfaced in trade speculation since January.
What does this mean for Ja Morant’s future?
Because Memphis is unlikely to target a point guard with the No. 3 pick, keeping Morant would make sense from a roster standpoint — but his long-term future remains uncertain.
Morant is one of the last remaining faces of the previous core. The Grizzlies are expected to continue evaluating his trade market value as they explore building around a new foundation centered on the No. 3 pick, Edey and Coward.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies moves, Ja Morant trade outlook before NBA draft
Continue reading...
