3) Embrace the misery
Look, there’s a rainbow at the end of every bad NBA season: a lottery pick in the NBA Draft. Memphis shouldn’t tank, but only because they shouldn’t need to go out of their way to secure a top pick. Despite their struggles, the Grizzlies have done a good job of finding contributors across the roster. The new extension signed by wing Vince Williams Jr. is indicative of as much.
But it feels like there’s a big gap between the Grizzlies’ top talent and the depth pieces. Outside of Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane are the top players, and both have claims of eliteness, particularly with the way Bane has played this season in Morant’s absence. Marcus Smart is very good, though likely not a long-term fit in Memphis.
Beyond those four, the Grizzlies only have one player averaging more than 10 points per game, Santi Aldama. There are a handful of intriguing young players on the roster, but none appear on the verge of a breakthrough.
Landing a top draft pick would give the Grizzlies an opportunity to enhance their young core and find another elite player. It’s not expected to be a loaded draft class, but Memphis will have two first-round picks to play with due to the Isaiah Todd trade. Two shots at a dart board are better than one, especially if one falls in the top three or four selections.
If last year was closer to the true ceiling of Memphis with its current core, they’re going to need a bit more fire in their lineup. A lottery draft pick could bring that.
