NBA Draft 2019: 5 targets for the Memphis Grizzlies

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers drives against the Marquette Golden Eagles during their first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

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4. Mfiondu Kabengele, C, Florida State

Jonas Valanciunas has a $17.6 million player option for next season, and he may choose to hit the open market instead. Joakim Noah and Ivan Rabb will probably be back, but Noah is nothing more than an overpaid veteran backup at this stage of his career and due in part to minimal opportunity Rabb hasn’t shown much in his NBA career.

Kabengele is a first-round pick in at least one mock draft right now (No. 25 overall), but he could very well slip to the second round. Memphis would have to trade for another pick, but adding a young big man should be on the radar however it may have to be done.

Despite coming off the bench and averaging less than 22 minutes per game, Kabengele led the Seminoles in scoring last season (13.2 points per game). In Florida State’s first two NCAA Tournament games, against Vermont and Murray State, he averaged 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots per game. In three ACC Tournament contests prior to that, he averaged 2.7 blocks per game.

As March draft risers go, Kabengele was high on this year’s list. That may lead to him being overdrafted, but he’s got an NBA body (6-foot-10, 250 pounds; 7-foot-3 wingspan) and, albeit on limited attempts (91), he made more than 37 percent of his 3-pointers over two college seasons.

It will take some moving parts to get him, but the Grizzlies have to be on the list of teams intrigued here.

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