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NBA trade rumors: Grizzlies willing to trade the No. 4 pick

By Jeremy Morris

MEMPHIS, TN - MAY 2: J.B. Bickerstaff, Head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and General Manger Chris Wallace of the Memphis Grizzlies address the media during a Press Conference on May 2, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MAY 2: J.B. Bickerstaff, Head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and General Manger Chris Wallace of the Memphis Grizzlies address the media during a Press Conference on May 2, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Since sliding out of the top two slots in the lottery, the Grizzlies have (hopefully) been exploring all possible options with the No. 4 pick. Trading the pick would make sense for several reasons.

The worst possible way to approach drafting in the NBA lottery is by factoring in team need. Best available player and nothing else matters. Period.

If you’re picking in the lottery, you could probably use help just about anywhere. Projecting success is so hit or miss and such an inexact science as is, restricting your options by focusing only on players who fit a certain role makes the odds of landing a good to great NBA player even lower.

According to an article Sean Deveney wrote for Sporting News earlier today, the Grizzlies may be considering the one option that does make sense for drafting based on needs — trading their pick. Deveney quotes an unnamed NBA general manager who says that “they (Memphis) are the ones who are going to be more ready to do something than others” referring to the likelihood of any teams at the top of the draft trading picks.

He mentions the ideas of the Grizzlies trading up in the draft as well as trading down. Since neither Phoenix nor Sacramento are likely to part ways with the No. 1 or No. 2 picks unless the Grizzlies packaged the fourth pick with some outrageous collection of assets (which they don’t really have), you can basically eliminate the possibility that they trade up.

It would make a lot of sense for the Grizzlies to trade the No. 4 pick in exchange for a pick in the 8 to 12 range plus a veteran player or another later or future pick. They’d still be able to draft a solid wing player like Mikal Bridges or Miles Bridges and would net another asset from the trade. Let’s be honest, the Grizzlies need more help than one rookie can likely provide so adding another piece or another draft pick could be huge.

More importantly, it takes the bat out of Chris Wallace’s hands before he can swing and miss at one of the riskier players in the 4-8 range.

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If the Grizzlies keep the pick there is a cluster of players that includes Jaren Jackson Jr (PF/C, Michigan St), Wendell Carter (C, Duke), Mo Bamba (C, Texas), Michael Porter Jr (F, Mizzou), and possibly Mikal Bridges (SF, Villanova) who make some sense.

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