Thoughts on Who the Grizzlies Should Draft with the Third Pick

The NBA draft lottery occurred last night and my favorite team, the Grizzlies, got the third overall pick. Let’s discuss.

I am stoked about this. The Grizzlies had a bad, bad season, but now they have a very high lottery pick. They traded Jaren Jackson Jr, I hope they trade Ja Morant next, and maybe get off some of the old contracts. I want this team to go young and start a small, but quick rebuild. If they can find a team for Morant, attach a player like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and maybe get a future pick or two, that would be ideal for me. I want them to move on from the older players, who had some success that I will be forever grateful for, and start building around Cedric Coward and Zach Edey, that would be the best thing moving ahead. And they can really kick start the fast rebuild with this third overall pick. And I don't want them to trade the pick either. I want them to keep it and take one of the three players I'm about to talk about. I know the idea of attaching the pick to get some win now guys is enticing, but don't give in Grizzlies. Keep the pick.

Looking at their roster, I'd like them to take a front court player or a taller wing player. The backcourt has, for now, Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr and Ty Jerome. So, while a player like Keaton Wagler or Kingston Flemings may be desirable, I want them to stick with the current guys, and if they were to trade Morant, maybe try to get a point guard in return. I also think, that given a full season of health, and no expectations, Ty Jerome and Cedric Coward could run the offense. I'd love to see Coward, who is listed as a forward, but is 6'5, get some run as the lead guard. That would be interesting to me. As I get deeper into the roster, what they need is true front court talent. Brandon Clarke Jr is old and often injured. I still have hope in Zach Edey. O-Max Prosper hasn't lived up to his draft position. Santi Aldama is soft and more of a three point threat. They need beef. They need strength. They need a low post presence that can stretch the defense at times.

My top choice for this pick, the guy I want them to take with this pick over anyone else is Cam Boozer. He would start right away. He won't replace JJJ, but he will help in that area. He is big, 6'10. He is a good post scorer. He can shoot the three. He is a solid three point shooter. He is a decent rebounder. He does need to get leaps and bounds better on defense, but that can come with coaching. I don't want the Grizzlies to overthink this. It should be an easy and simple decision. Take Boozer, don't waste everyone's time. Do the right thing and do it fast.

If they go in some other direction, or Boozer is already gone, there are two other players I would like them to take here. Caleb Wilson had loads of potential, and he is a highly talented offensive prospect. He can get anywhere he wants on the floor. He is an excellent shot creator. He has no fear going to the rim and he can shoot from the outside. His defense leaves a ton to be desired, and he missed a big chunk of last season due to injury. You could tell that UNC missed him greatly when he went out with his injury, but that is good and bad. I think Wilson is a high risk, but also very high reward player. If he hits, Wilson could be a perennial all star. But there's also the possibility of him flaming out, and that frightens me a bit. And then there is my, if this kid is here for some unknown reason, and even if Boozer is still available, they would have to draft AJ Dybansta. Dybansta is my favorite prospect in the whole draft. I think he is the best overall player by leaps and bounds. He is primed and ready to play and contribute from day one. You can build an offense and a team around him. He works his tail off on defense and he will only get better. He made BYU a watchable basketball team last season. He has all the tools you want in a player, and if he "slips" to the Grizzlies at three, they need to snatch him right away. He would be the best thing that could happen to the franchise right now. I'd want them to trade Morant asap if they are somehow able to draft Dybansta. The team will be his from day one. But, since he is so good and coveted, I am sure that the Wizards are going to take him first overall. So that would leave the Grizzlies with Boozer or Wilson, and I'd want them to take Boozer.

This is my hope, but we will see what they do when the draft rolls around. Time will tell. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

AJ Dybantsa Made His Case to Be the #1 Pick in the NBA Draft

I am beginning to believe that AJ Dybantsa should be the top pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Let’s discuss.

Some things have to fall into place for this to occur. The team that ends up drafting first will need a score first wing. Dybantsa has said he may come back to school for another year, I don't believe that. And he has to put together solid workouts throughout the draft process. But what he did yesterday, that was more than enough for me to push him ahead of guys like Daryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson. Those four guys have been the talk of the whole season. They seem to be the consensus top four guys in the draft. But I feel like Dybantsa's game yesterday really put him over the edge. Look, I fully understand that BYU was beaten in that game, but it had nothing to do with how he played. Dybantsa did everything he could to keep his team in the game. He scored 35 points. He had 10 rebounds. He moved the ball on offense. He put forth effort on defense. He looked every bit the best player that is now draft eligible right now. I have concerns about the other three guys I mentioned, but none of that comes to mind when I watch and think about Dybantsa as the top overall prospect.

Cam Boozer is the closest to Dybantsa for me. He is a very good big that can stretch the floor. He is also a solid rebounder. His defense leaves me wanting, but that can be fixed. The issue I have with Boozer, he isn't as complete as Dtybantsa is right now. Boozer tends to float in and out of games. He goes much harder on offense than defense. And he seems to let little injuries affect his game. I still think Boozer is the clear second best prospect, but he is far behind Dybantsa for me.

Everything that has been said about Peterson's lack of caring feels more true everyday. He is an amazing talent, he makes it look so effortless on offense. But he truly does drift in and out of games. He has asked to be taken out of games. His coaches have questioned his will. It may be unfair, but the proof is out there. Peterson has all of the skills in the world, but if he isn't willing to put in the work, I don't know if a franchise should use their first overall pick in the draft on him.

Caleb Wilson is kind of an enigma to me. I watched him play earlier this year and came away super impressed. He made UNC look like a legit threat in the ACC. He can go inside and out. He puts forth tons of effort. He is a good basketball player. But he has some injury that shut him down for the rest of the season. This happened about a month ago, but he missed all of the crucial games it felt like, and that was when UNC needed him most. I understand that he has a clear future in front of him. He is going to make millions of dollars in the NBA, and he probably didn't want to risk getting hurt again, or making his current injury worse. But the other three guys played through the year, or are still playing. The lasting image I had of Wilson was him in street clothes watching VCU beat UNC. That would make me pause a bit before deciding to draft Wilson first overall.

All four of these guys have a case to be the number 1 pick. Peterson was the consensus number 1 for a long, long time. But then the drifting in and out of games occurred. Wilson was making a good case for himself until he got hurt and missed the rest of the season. Boozer has all of the skills in the world, and his team has more games left, which means he has more of a stage to boost his stock. But he has some clear gaps before he catches up to Dybantsa. And what I saw from Dybansta last night really blew me away. This kid is really, really good. He seems to love the game. He puts all of his effort out on that court. I don't know why any team would take anyone else first overall. Even if I had a glut of wing players, I'd make room for Dybantsa. He feels like a player you can build around. He is only going to work harder to get better. He has a passion for basketball and I would be pounding the pavement to take him first overall.

Time will tell, but Dybantsa really looked like the best prospect for most of the season, and especially last night, in the upcoming NBA draft. The kid can ball. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.