Despite coming into 2023-24 with rather lofty expectations, the Memphis Grizzlies wrapped up their campaign playoff-less for the first time in four years and claimed the seventh-worst record in the entire association at 27-55.
Though such a run was far from desirable, what keeps the franchise and their faithful followers upbeat is the fact that not only do they understand their struggles were primarily related to injuries, but they now hold the rights to the ninth overall selection in the upcoming NBA Draft as a result, with which they could add on another promising young piece to their youth-filled collection.
Of course, when it comes to how Zach Kleiman and company will look to utilize their lottery pick, there are many different outcomes that could come about.
As is always the case with drafting, a team’s decision-making will always be scrutinized by both fans and pundits alike.
In some cases, they are praised for landing their dream target. Other times, they’re ridiculed for reaching. And, on some occasions, the public reaction seems to be non-existent, as things seemed to have turned out as many had projected.
With this in mind, today we’ll be pinpointing one specific target who could spark each of these aforementioned responses.
Dream Grizzlies draft target: Donovan Clingan
For months now, Donovan Clingan has been viewed by many as a great fit for this Memphis Grizzlies team, and it’s rather easy to see why.
From his 7-foot-2, 282-pound frame to his two-way skill set on the hardwood, the 20-year-old boasts a profile that could stand to make him an ideal replacement for the departed Steven Adams as the ball club’s center of the future.
Clingan finished his sophomore campaign with the Huskies averaging 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 63.9 percent from the floor, and capped things off by helping guide the team to their second-straight NCAA Championship.
As he showcased during his collegiate career, the big man is someone who prioritizes setting hard screens, rolling off the pick, and getting tough down in the post on the offensive end while also serving as an excellent rim protector, drop coverage defender, and second-chance eliminator when on the less glamorous side of the floor.
In other words, everything the Grizzlies could use at the pivot.
On top of all this, it is being reported that his long-range shooting has been a standout attribute during his pre-draft workouts, thus making his value as a prospect rise even higher ahead of June 26 which, in turn, makes it more and more difficult to believe that he’ll still be on the board once the Grizzlies are up at pick number nine.
Reach Grizzlies draft target: Zach Edey
From a physical and skill-set perspective, there is an argument to be made that Zach Edey could be a solid fit at the pivot position for the Grizzlies moving forward.
Measuring in at 7-foot-4, 299 pounds, he’d clearly be a menacing presence down low similar to how Steven Adams was for the club during his tenure, while his scoring touch and rebounding abilities could serve as solid additions to this Memphis team that ranked 30 and 24, respectively, in each of these categories this past season.
That said, even with his impressive senior season averages of 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game on 62.3 percent shooting from the field and his copious amounts of collegiate accolades that include two AP Player of the Year awards and an NCAA All-Tourney selection, the Purdue standout still seems to have plenty of concerns attatched to his name heading into the pros.
Still rather raw is his offensive game outside of the restricted area, while his speed leaves much to be desired. On top of this, his defensive instincts and IQ are both a bit concerning — despite ranking second in the Big Ten Conference in total blocked shots with 84, he also registered 76 personal fouls and struggled to stay with smaller and quicker opponents.
While he may have the potential to hone these skills, considering the Grizzlies are in a win-now mode and are in dire need of center help, being patient on his developments may not be the most ideal scenario for them, especially with the ninth overall pick.
Let’s not forget, Memphis tried to do a similar thing at their wing position with the raw yet intriguing Ziaire Williams at 10 overall back in 2021.
Realistic Grizzlies draft target: Ron Holland
Being this year’s draft is considered by many one of the “weakest” in recent memory, perhaps one of the best approaches to selecting a prospect is by going after the best talent available.
Fortunately for the Grizzlies, embarking down this road could realistically lead them to a player some are tabbing as arguably the top prospect in this year’s class, Ron Holland.
The former five-star recruit spent the 2023-24 campaign playing for the G League Ignite, where he flashed Jimmy Butler potential, according to teammate Norris Cole, and finished off with solid two-way averages of 18.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on 47.4 percent shooting from the floor.
From his highly underrated ball-handling skills to his stupendous athleticism, a talent like Holland could be of great use running alongside Ja Morant in fast-break opportunities, while his defensive versatility could fit in quite nicely with the club’s generally tenacious efforts on that side of the ball when fully healthy.
Of course, there are concerns regarding the 18-year-old’s shooting stroke, as he converted on just 23.9 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc, but, in some ways, this could be viewed as a beneficial circumstance, for, without such a hiccup, he could very well be found selected within the top-five of the upcoming draft rather than being projected as a late-lottery pick.
Shooting mechanics can be worked on at the next level — just ask Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown, as both came into the association attached to similar critiques to their game.
With all this in mind, should Holland be available when the Grizzlies are on the clock at nine, he would be both a realistic and profound prospect to take a chance on.
