Mock drafts target Jackson or Bagley for Grizzlies
Several questions remain about how the dominoes will fall.
In what order will the top college bigs go? Where is Trae Young landing? How far will Michael Porter Jr. slide? How high will European sensation Luka Doncic go?
The Grizzlies, despite having the best odds of getting the second pick, fell to No. 4 in the NBA draft lottery. They should still get a quality player when the draft proceedings begin June 21.
Until then, we’ll continue to monitor mock drafts to come up with a clearer picture of what might go down. On 10 mock drafts there are the same 10 players listed in the top 10 regardless of order: Porter, Young, Doncic, DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, Jaren Jackson, Mohamed Bamba, Mikal Bridges, Collin Sexton and Wendell Carter.
Jackson, a 6-11 power forward, appears on five mock drafts as the Grizzlies’ selection at No. 4. There is a consensus that Ayton will go first to the Phoenix Suns while Doncic is expected to go second to the Sacramento Kings. The draft should get more interesting after the Atlanta Hawks select a player at No. 3. Bagley and Jackson appear on mock drafts equally at that pick.
With the lottery and combine in the rear view mirror, players are jetting around the country to work out for teams or scheduling pro days for NBA executives to visit them at once.
There’s roughly three weeks until the draft. The Grizzlies held only two pre-draft workouts but their decisionmakers are gathering intel.
The case for Marvin Bagley
At 6-foot-10, Bagley averaged 21 points and 11.1 rebounds last season at Duke. He shot 61.4 percent from the field. His athletic ability and energy around the basket could eventually make him a nightly double-double machine without requiring many touches. Bagley is not much of a shotblocker and looked lost on defense at times at Duke. But he’s a productive offensive player who puts up big num-
bers. Bagley is a potential All-Star who can play power forward or develop into a stretch center.
The case for Jaren Jackson
The Michigan State freshman power forward stands 6-foot-11 is considered to have tremendous upside. His ability to bury 3-pointers and be a rim protector is an intriguing prospect as a stretch four. NBA analysts compare him to former Vancouver Grizzly forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim. He’s a big man who fits the modern NBA better than most on the board.
The case for Mohamed Bamba
The 7-footer from Texas has the potential to be a big-time rim protector and athletic big man who can routinely catch lobs for dunks or layups. He’s already considered a defensive presence with 7-foot-10 wingspan and keen instincts as a shot-blocker.
The case for Michael Porter
Arguably the most intriguing player in the draft, Porter was widely considered the No. 1 pick before he needed back surgery that kept him out most of last season at Missouri. He’s 6-foot-10 and can play both forward positions with his offensive versatility. Porter handles the ball well and displays above-average athleticism, which would give the Grizzlies a dynamic wing player they’ve desperately been searching for since trading Rudy Gay.
The case for Trae Young
The 6-foot-2, 178-pound Young led the nation in scoring and assists as a freshman, averaging 27.4 points and 8.7 dimes. He’s attractive as a prospect because he amassed big numbers playing a modern game that relies heavily on long-distance shooting. He is adept at losing defenders with his dribble and making plays in the pick-and-roll. Young is an exciting player in the mold of Golden State’s Stephen Curry and would be an easy upgrade at the guard position behind Mike Conley.
What if Luka Doncic falls?
ESPN.com’s Jonathan Givony reported that the Suns, Kings and Hawks could pass on Doncic. It would be difficult to imagine the Grizzlies letting him slip past them. Still, there remains doubt that Doncic will fall to No. 4. He’s the most decorated European player. The 19-year-old combo guard just became the youngest player to earn Euroleague MVP or its Final Four honors. Doncic doesn’t have good athleticism to fit the NBA but he would be a strong secondary playmaker and shot-maker.