Fansided

5(ish) targets for the Grizzlies in the 2018 draft

By Jeremy Morris

PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 7: Mike Conley
PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 7: Mike Conley /
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Collin Sexton (2) of Alabama (Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) / Lonnie Walker IV (4) of Miami (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) / Mikal Bridges (25) of Villanova (Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) / (Miles Bridges (22) of Michigan State (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Collin Sexton (2) of Alabama (Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) / Lonnie Walker IV (4) of Miami (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) / Mikal Bridges (25) of Villanova (Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) / (Miles Bridges (22) of Michigan State (Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

4. Options to trade back

As a team that won 22 games a season ago and plays in a loaded Western Conference, Memphis needs more help to compete than they’ll likely be able to add from one player. If they aren’t head over heals for a player or two in the top five, it would make a ton of sense to find a team with a mid-first round pick or late lottery pick and trade back — especially since they do not have a first round pick next season.

If they can turn the No. 4 pick into a pick in the 8 to 15 range and either a current player who could contribute or a future pick, I think it’s something that needs to be given serious consideration.

Aside from Carter, the Grizzlies would have several viable options in that range.

Collin Sexton (PG, Alabama)

  • Freak athlete with off the charts intensity
  • Only 6-foot-2 but has a 6-foot-8 wingspan and potential to develop into a lock-down defensive guard
  • Great scorer, blows defenders away one on one and finishes at the rim
  • Needs to improve consistency as a perimeter shooter and develop as a true point guard
  • Got to the rim and drew more fouls than any guard in the draft
  • Could play alongside Conley, would be the point guard of the future, and would be the best backup point guard Memphis has ever had
  • Projected No. 8 to 12

Mikal Bridges (SG/SF, Villanova)

  • 6-foot-7 junior, two-time national champion
  • Great leadership and intangibles
  • Can shoot from the perimeter and space the floor
  • Could become a Jason Tatum-type two-way player
  • Will be an asset no matter what, floor is as a solid three and D player, ceiling as a Jason Tatum-type of impact player
  • Projected No. 7 to 12

Miles Bridges (SF, Michigan St)

  • Strong, athletic, 6-foot-7 small forward
  • High basketball IQ player who can score in a variety of ways inside and out
  • Versatile defender, can guard three, possibly four positions
  • More polished from having spent two years at Michigan St. under Tom Izzo
  • Projected No. 7 to 15

Lonnie Walker (SG, Miami)

  • Explosive, can jump out of the building
  • Great slasher, excels as isolation and can finish in a variety of ways
  • Also a solid perimeter shooter both as an off-ball player and attacking
  • Has the athleticism, size (6’5″ frame and 6’10” wingspan) to be an elite defender but needs to improve awareness when guarding opposing shooters off the ball
  • Projected No. 10 to 20

I have no idea what Chris Wallace and the Grizzlies’ front office will do and I’m almost scared to speculate.

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