GRIZ DRAFT PREVIEW
Team interested in trading or buying to acquire some talent
The Memphis Grizzlies hope to purchase a first-round pick to acquire a prospect with play-making potential.
The Grizzlies need more athleticism. The Grizzles need more shooters. What the Grizzlies need more than anything, says director of player personnel Stu Lash, is to simply get value out of the NBA Draft.
Drafting strictly based on need can be a dangerous proposition, especially given the Griz own three secondround picks (the 41st, 55th and 60th overall selections), and are in a position where prospects are often viewed as long shots to have significant NBA careers.
“People always talk about shooting, but you want basketball players — guys who can make plays,” Lash said. “Obviously, if they make shots then that’s great, but it’s hard to just draft off of need because you want to get the most talented guys and guys who fit into who you are.”
To that end, Griz brass will look to purchase a first-round draft pick to grab a coveted player. Teams can spend up to $3 million to facilitate trades or buy draft picks, per season.
The Griz are interested in at least three players who would compel them to get into the first round. It is likely that a potential Griz first-round selection would be in the 20s as most teams in the bottom third of the draft are reportedly looking to get off their picks.
Memphis’s draft strategy will know no bounds.
The Griz are exploring packaging second-round picks to move up. It’s also conceivable that the team would exercise one of the picks, sell another and select a foreign player who would remain overseas to develop.
According to SI.com, Detroit guard Ray McCallum is considered a second-round sleeper. McCallum had a strong showing at the league’s combine in Chicago and is viewed as an
NBA-ready backup point guard. Several mock drafts have the Griz interested in Ohio State wingman Deshaun Thomas, who is described as a versatile scorer with an efficient midrange game.
Memphis wasn’t one of the several teams exploring player trades on the eve of the draft. However, that could change depending on the quality of offers the Griz might field when the draft proceedings begin. Forward Zach Randolph, whom the Griz con- sidered moving before the February trade deadline, remains a candidate to be included in a deal because of his perceived diminishing skills and $17.8 million contract for next season. Randolph also has a $16.5 million contract option for 2014-15.
Memphis could also look to replace Jerryd Bayless’ scoring punch off the bench. Bayless is expected to not exercise his contract option for the 2013-14 season, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Griz are expected to resign veteran guard Tony Allen as a free agent but still need more athleticism on the wing and outside shooting to take pressure off post players.
Either way, the Griz apparently will be as deliberate as they have been in making past trades and a recent head coaching change.
“We want the most talented guy,” Lash said. “But sometimes talent isn’t just what you see on the basketball court. There are different layers of talent and those are things we break down internally as part of our process as we make decisions.”
Complicating the process is the mystery about how the top of the draft will unfold. There seem to be complaints every year that the draft pool is weak. It may be true this year, given the lack of obvious surefire talent and a consensus No. 1 overall pick.
Although free agency is a more likely avenue to add a player ready to contribute right away, the Griz aren’t dismissive about this draft’s quality.
“Maybe it doesn’t have that name at the top that everybody gets super excited about,” Lash said.
“But once you start peeling it back, and you get later on in the draft, there are good NBA players here.”