Draft day 2015: It’s deja vu all over again

The Grizzlies selected LSU’s Jarell Martin with their first-round draft pick. Over on Twitter, Grizzlies fans went nuts.

Brandon Binnski: “I might have to sell back my season tickets.”

Chase Lucas: “What an incredible waste of time.”

Spencer Jones: “We just drafted Jeff Green Jr.”

Hal Lewis: “Of course Griz pick up another backup power forward when a great shooter is still on the board.”

Kamerun T. Whalum: “Why in the heck do we need this fool?”

And for those of you who recall that I began last year’s draft column this exact same way, there’s a very good reason for that.

Every Grizzlies draft night resembles every other Grizzlies draft night. It’s as predictable as death, taxes and playing heads-or-tails with Marc Gasol.

The Grizzlies prepare to make their pick.

The fans identify the guy they want.

The Grizzlies ignore that guy, pick someone else and the fans erupt in disgust.

Last year, the Grizzlies ignored Rodney Hood in favor of Jordan Adams.

This year, the Grizzlies ignored R.J. Hunter in favor of Martin.

Alfred David Hall: “The Grizzlies have morons in the front office.”

It’s like Groundhog Day, only with bears.

The morons/geniuses had a busy day Thursday, even before the draft. They shipped Luke Ridnour to Charlotte for Matt Barnes, a 35-year-old small

forward who once kicked over a garbage can at FedEx-Forum after the Grizzlies beat his Clippers in a playoff game.

But, hey, let bygones be bygones. Barnes can guard and he can shoot the 3. Considering the Grizzlies got him for Ridnour, whom they got for the rights to Janis Timma, it’s hard not to applaud the move.

The draft, well, that’s a more complicated story. And it started with such promise, too. After the first 17 picks, these fine players were among those still available: Sam Dekker, Jerian Grant, Delon Wright, Justin Anderson, Bobby Portis, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Tyus Jones.

It was unfolding perfectly for Memphis.

All those players couldn’t be gone by pick No. 25, right? And if you believe that, you have never experienced a Memphis draft night. Of course they were all gone. And of course the Grizzlies decided not to pick Hunter, the shooter. And of course the guy they did pick sent some of their most devoted fans into a rage.

Now, I’m not going to tell you those fans won’t turn out to be right about Martin. And I’m not going to tell you that Chris Wallace and the Grizzlies deserve the benefit of the doubt. When it comes to drafting, the Grizzlies have earned all the skepticism that comes their direction. They have inflicted their fan base with a severe case of draft PTSD.

But Martin is a gifted, physical forward. He’s big (6-10, 240) and he can score (16.9 points a game). And while Griz fans might not have liked the pick, a bunch of people who follow the draft for a living seemed to like it just fine.

Chad Ford of ESPN: “Jarell Martin is an interesting prospect. Nice pick for Griz.”

Doug Gottlieb of CBS: “Jarell Martin can go. Face up 4, talented. Doesn’t play D, but will learn to grind some in Memphis. Good value.”

Mike Prada of SB-Nation: “Jarell Martin was one of my favorites. Would have loved to see him go to the Wizards.”

So maybe they know just as much or more than the fans?

Check back in a couple years, to see how it all turned out. And check back to see what happened to Kentucky guard Andrew Harrison, whom the Grizzlies drafted with a second-round pick they got for Jon Leuer.

In the meantime, I have good news for those Griz fans who have grown weary of getting their hopes smashed on draft night.

Next year, the team doesn’t have a first-round pick.