DREAM SCENARIO
5 players Grizzlies could draft if lottery works out
First things first. There's almost no chance the Grizzlies will have a firstround pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Their pick, slotted at No. 14 ahead of Thursday's draft lottery (TV: ESPN, 7:30 p.m. CT), is owed to the Boston Celtics to fulfill their 2015 trade that involved acquiring Jeff Green.
The only way they keep it? If the Grizzlies move into the top four of the lottery. The flip side is that first-round pick is left unprotected for the Celtics in 2021.
The Grizzlies have a 2.4% chance to move in the top four. Last year, they had a 26.3% chance, yet moved from eighth to second in the draft. The result was drafting rookie phenom Ja Morant.
What if the Grizzlies get lucky and have a top-four pick for a third consecutive year?
Just in case, here are five players the Grizzlies could draft if they end up in the top four.
Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia
The 6-foot-5 Edwards averaged 19.1 points last season as a freshman and did a lot of heavy lifting for the Bulldogs. With his frame and scoring ability, he can plug in and get his own shot.
The two knocks on his game? He shot just 29.1% on 3-pointers and he's also not a great defender. The Grizzlies need outside shooting and Edwards would be a downgrade from Dillon Brooks in both scoring and defense.
James Wiseman, C, Memphis
Breathe, Tigers fans. How cool would it be if Wiseman continued his career in Memphis?
It'd be a nice Memphis story. But of course, Wiseman's game translates well. At 7-1, he can average a doubledouble, be a rim protector and run the floor to fit in Taylor Jenkins' “Let it Fly” system.
Wiseman hasn't faced many elite bigs due to his three-game stint in college. A small sample size, however, won't deter teams from taking him high.
Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC
Okongwu is the best rim protector in the draft. He's undersized at 6-9 but has great shot blocking instincts and averaged eight rebounds this season. He'll score around the rim and could get easy looks with Morant and Tyus Jones driving to the basket.
As good as Okongwu is in the paint, he's got struggles outside of it. He's not a stretch five and his jump shot isn't as developed as his post moves. That said, his chance to be an elite defender makes this tempting, especially alongside Jaren Jackson Jr.
Tyrese Haliburton, G, Iowa State
Haliburton might be the best fit for the Grizzlies. At 6-5, he mostly ran point last season but he also shot 41.9% from 3. Not only is he a willing shooter, he's a great passer (6.5 assists per game) and defender (2.5 spg).
Haliburton isn't a big guard, though. At 175 pounds, he's as slight as Morant was when he was drafted last year. He'll need to bulk up and of course, the Grizzlies are committed to Brooks, who signed a three-year extension in February. But Haliburton could add depth as another facilitator, shooter and defender off the bench.
Deni Avdija, F, Israel
Avdija is your typical point forward at 6-9. He's a decent shooter and a great ballhandler with play-making ability. At 19, he's been MVP of the Israeli League and shot 41% on 3-pointers since his season restarted this summer.
The question is can he maintain this scoring in a tougher league. He wasn't a consistent shooter, so is it enough that he's a better scoring Kyle Anderson? It makes him an intriguing prospect but not a slam dunk pick who'll produce right away.