NBA Draft 2018: Winners and losers

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Luka Doncic speaks to the media after being selected third overall at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Kostas Lymperopoulos/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 21: Jaren Jackson Jr. poses for a portrait after being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Winner No. 2: The Memphis Grizzlies

No one knew what Memphis wanted heading into yesterday. Did they want to trade the fourth pick for a win-now piece? Did they want Michael Porter Jr.? Or Luka Doncic? Plenty of options were on the table, to the point that when Woj announced that the top of the draft was set, he tweeted the pick at number four, but not the team making it.

Instead, Memphis just went out and got two players who fit their ideology very well. First was Jaren Jackson Jr., who they stuck at No. 4. In doing so, they got a strong two-way big man who has a path to being the best in the class, even with Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, and Mo Bamba available. He should be a strong defensive player in a short time, he has a high offensive ceiling, and fits well next to Marc Gasol. All good things.

Then with their second-round pick, they went out and drafted the most Grizzlies player possible- – Jevon Carter of West Virginia, a bulldog point of attack defensive player who will take the Tony Allen mantle of “guy who will run head-first into a wall like a ram because he thinks it’s fun.” With these picks, Memphis has a shot to bring their defense, and therefore grit-and-grind, back into action. This will be fun.

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