2021 NBA DRAFT
Owned Draft Picks: Own 2021 1st Round Pick (Pick #17), POR 2021 2nd Round Pick (Pick #51)
Over the years, Memphis has been one of the best teams when it comes to finding talent all over the draft. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant have been their two key draftees over the last few years, but pulling off draft night trades for guys like Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane, Xavier Tillman and Brandon Clarke have helped shape what is one of the best young cores in the entire league.
This year, Memphis will be in a very similar position in terms of moving around in the draft since they own the rights to the 17th and 51st overall selections in the 2021 NBA Draft. They definitely will have their eyes on some guys with their first-round selection this year, but this pick is definitely in an area where it could be traded.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: This Grizzlies-Thunder trade pairs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ja Morant
That “end of the lottery” area between picks 15-20 is very volatile in terms of teams looking to make a trade and over the last three drafts, there have been 6 different trades involving players picked in this area. This 17th overall selection by the Grizzlies is going to be viewed as very valuable, especially if some guys that were projected to be selected in the lottery fall outside of the Top-14.
Guys like F Jalen Johnson (Duke), F Franz Wagner (Michigan), G Chris Duarte (Oregon), F/C Kai Jones (Texas), C Isaiah Jackson (Kentucky) and G Tre Mann (Florida) are all young talents who could still be on the board when it comes to Memphis’ pick, which is why they will have a ton of options on what to do.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: This Grizzlies-Warriors trade is centered on Jonas Valanciunas
Memphis could trade down to pick up some extra picks either this year or down the line, or they could keep the pick and do what they do best – draft and develop! Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and now Desmond Bane this year have all grown into really solid, reliable players with the Grizzlies, so to think that they could do the same with whoever they select 17th overall is not crazy at all!
With a ton of young talent on their roster that is only going to continue to develop in their system, the Memphis Grizzlies are in one of the best spots out of any team in the league right now, which is why the draft is definitely important, but not crucial for them.
Memphis could definitely get away with trading this pick for either a key role player to utilize in their second-unit next season or for future draft assets to continue to fill their team with young talents generation by generation. However, there will be plenty of useful and high-level potential prospects still on the board for the Grizzlies with the 17th pick!
