Hypothetical Situation

[SD2042]

For this hypothetical it involves the trade of Mike Conley. Let's say the Grizzlies did find a trade suitor that involve acquiring a player, this year's 1st round draft choice and this year's second round choice. The first round choice base on MC11's trade value is based on the mid first round between 12-20. The second round choice will not be based on a fixed postion in this hypothetical.


If you are the Grizzlies GM in this hypothetical who would you draft with this mid first round pick based on the team's need or best player available?

Who would you choose for your second round draft choice?

[Whole Truth]

16-20

Okpala
Herro
Clarke

12-16

Johnson
Little
Fernando

In my following post, I'll idividually breakown reason for each selection. Starting with Clarke.

[Whole Truth]

Brandon Clarke

Pascal Siakam age 22
6'9"
7'3" wing span
High motor
8'11" standing reach

Agility test - 30.5 / 36.5 / 11.25 / 3.09 / 3.41

Pascal's impact was due to his speed & motor as a 6'9" forward. He had no range & was lacking offensive refinement at 22.

Clarke age 23
6'8"
6'8.25" wing span
High motor
8'6" standing reach

Agility test - 34 / 40.5 / 10.61 / 3.05 / 3.28

Clarke is not as long as Pascal but his standing & vert is considerably better, his agility in the lane & speed in sprints tops Pascals.

Brandon Clarke though a year older at time of draft, is potentially Siakam 2.0. He's actually has better athleticism & is quicker with a similar high high motor but doesn't quite have Pascal's length. I'm picturing his speed, athleticism next to 3J at C & JA in small ball lineups. While a year older at draft time, I'd take into consideration he's also further along in his development then when Pascal was drafted. It wasn't until this past year that Pascal started hitting that corner 3 with any kind of consistency.

16-20 range, due to age & measurements.

[VCfor3]

16-20

Okpala
Herro
Clarke

12-16

Johnson
Little
Fernando

In my following post, I'll idividually breakown reason for each selection. Starting with Clarke.

I'm not high on Little but I'd be happy taking him in that range. I just didn't want him at 8 ha. I'm not sure if I'd take Okpala there or not but I do like his physical profile so I certainly wouldn't be upset with the pick. Just don't know what to think of him. I like Herro and am good taking him. His wingspan wasn't impressive so how is his defense? I think we need a solid 3&D to put next to Ja at SG but Herro gets buckets which is always good to have. I like Clarke and would take him 12-16. If Sekou drops I'd probably take a chance on him at 12. NAW is also a decent option in the 16-20 range. I'd also add Bol Bol just because we an afford a high risk high reward selection.

With a 2nd I'd try to target Jontay Porter potentially. I doubt Grant Williams drops but I'd be all over him as well. If we have a late 2nd I'd take a flyer on Killian Tillie.

[Whole Truth]

KZ Okpala

My drafting philosophy is you can't teach natural talent but you can refine it.

Okpala has good size for a SG/SF at 6'7.25, 6'9.5" in shoes, 7'1.75 wing span, 9.25 standing reach. He also scored well in his athleticism tests.

30 standing vert, 37 max vert, 10.88 lane agility, 3.13 shuttle, 3.45 3/4 sprint

Shot 44% from 3 on 3.1 attempts.

16-20 range. With great physical traits Okpala has natural talent in abundance. Problem is you can't teach motor, effort & determination either .7 blk's, .9stls is telling with his physical tools. He should be in the top 10. Boom, Bust.

[Whole Truth]

16-20

Okpala
Herro
Clarke

12-16

Johnson
Little
Fernando

In my following post, I'll idividually breakown reason for each selection. Starting with Clarke.

I'm not high on Little but I'd be happy taking him in that range. I just didn't want him at 8 ha. I'm not sure if I'd take Okpala there or not but I do like his physical profile so I certainly wouldn't be upset with the pick. Just don't know what to think of him. I like Herro and am good taking him. His wingspan wasn't impressive so how is his defense? I think we need a solid 3&D to put next to Ja at SG but Herro gets buckets which is always good to have. I like Clarke and would take him 12-16. If Sekou drops I'd probably take a chance on him at 12. NAW is also a decent option in the 16-20 range. I'd also add Bol Bol just because we an afford a high risk high reward selection.

With a 2nd I'd try to target Jontay Porter potentially. I doubt Grant Williams drops but I'd be all over him as well. If we have a late 2nd I'd take a flyer on Killian Tillie.

Okpala for me has questionable motor/dirve but he's got great natural talent, which you can't teach. I'm no professional but Id bring him in for a group workout & match him up against players projected top 10.

Agree with you on Herro, in a league where shooting is at a premium, it's an elite skill set for Herro. I'm thinking he could carve out a Korver type career though he doesn't have great length. I dont think he'd be useless defensively with his elite skill set.

[VCfor3]

16-20

Okpala
Herro
Clarke

12-16

Johnson
Little
Fernando

In my following post, I'll idividually breakown reason for each selection. Starting with Clarke.

I'm not high on Little but I'd be happy taking him in that range. I just didn't want him at 8 ha. I'm not sure if I'd take Okpala there or not but I do like his physical profile so I certainly wouldn't be upset with the pick. Just don't know what to think of him. I like Herro and am good taking him. His wingspan wasn't impressive so how is his defense? I think we need a solid 3&D to put next to Ja at SG but Herro gets buckets which is always good to have. I like Clarke and would take him 12-16. If Sekou drops I'd probably take a chance on him at 12. NAW is also a decent option in the 16-20 range. I'd also add Bol Bol just because we an afford a high risk high reward selection.

With a 2nd I'd try to target Jontay Porter potentially. I doubt Grant Williams drops but I'd be all over him as well. If we have a late 2nd I'd take a flyer on Killian Tillie.

Okpala for me has questionable motor/dirve but he's got great natural talent, which you can't teach. I'm no professional but Id bring him in for a group workout & match him up against players projected top 10.

Agree with you on Herro, in a league where shooting is at a premium, it's an elite skill set for Herro. I'm thinking he could carve out a Korver type career though he doesn't have great length. I dont think he'd be useless defensively with his elite skill set.

I agree defensively. Think he will be ok/averageish. You can always have a 3rd guard who is defensive minded and rotate him and Herro depending on matchups. Herro off the bench is still nice to have.

[Whole Truth]

Bruno Fernando

Same reason I liked Clarke, Fernando as a C put up similar agility numbers to Pascal Siakam. Ran the 3/4 sprint .25 seconds faster than Pascal who's excellent in transition. Unlike Clarke & Pascal, Fernando is doing it at 6'10" 240.

Size, speed, strength, athleticism. Another naturally gifted prospect.

Good hands, good footwork, even some creativity.

While still raw, he's also shown good growth in short span which lends to his work ethic.

12-16. I would love to add him to a front court of Jonas & 3J. By the time he's developed at C Jonas would be on his way out or moved to the bench in his favor but still provide a nice dimension to the front court depth & help mentor a post game.

[Whole Truth]

Nassir Little

Once again falls into my drafting philosophy.

Great size, athleticism, length & natural ability. Questionable IQ, I didn't like his lane agility result either. 12.15 is Taco fall territory.

Like Okpala, questionable IQ & or work ethic make for another Boom, Bust pick

[VCfor3]

What about Goga in the 17-20 range? I think he'd be more of a true center to pair with JJJ. The idea would be to let Goga bang against true centers to spare JJJ and when you play a team with a small ball 5 you just move JJJ to 5 and Goga can come off the bench.

[Whole Truth]

What about Goga in the 17-20 range? I think he'd be more of a true center to pair with JJJ. The idea would be to let Goga bang against true centers to spare JJJ and when you play a team with a small ball 5 you just move JJJ to 5 and Goga can come off the bench.

IMO Memphis already have a true physical 20-10 centre in Jonas to take the lumps, mentor the young bigs both on court & off it, with his professionalism. I'd rather draft Fernando if Memphis want a big. Eventually with Jonas providing the big experienced body, both he & Jaren will be strong enough to play either position seamlessly. Allow Memphis to play small ball, without going small. Fernado is coming in at 240 & is stronger than Jaren who came in at 230. Fernando has potential for a post game, Jaren is a stretch big. Both are mobile & quick.

The only 2 bigs I have interest in, in the 12-20 range are Fernando & Clarke.

[VCfor3]

What about Goga in the 17-20 range? I think he'd be more of a true center to pair with JJJ. The idea would be to let Goga bang against true centers to spare JJJ and when you play a team with a small ball 5 you just move JJJ to 5 and Goga can come off the bench.

IMO Memphis already have a true physical 20-10 centre in Jonas to take the lumps, mentor the young bigs both on court & off it, with his professionalism. I'd rather draft Fernando if Memphis want a big. Eventually with Jonas providing the big experienced body, both he & Jaren will be strong enough to play either position seamlessly. Allow Memphis to play small ball, without going small. Fernado is coming in at 240 & is stronger than Jaren who came in at 230. Fernando has potential for a post game, Jaren is a stretch big. Both are mobile & quick.

The only 2 bigs I have interest in, in the 12-20 range are Fernando & Clarke.

I feel like JV is more likely to opt out and go elsewhere or opt in and then leave next offseason unless Ja really comes along in his rookie season. I'm not sure if he is a long term solution. He also is old enough to not quite fit JJJ's timeline so if you can get value for him I think Memphis will have to really consider it.

[Whole Truth]

What about Goga in the 17-20 range? I think he'd be more of a true center to pair with JJJ. The idea would be to let Goga bang against true centers to spare JJJ and when you play a team with a small ball 5 you just move JJJ to 5 and Goga can come off the bench.

IMO Memphis already have a true physical 20-10 centre in Jonas to take the lumps, mentor the young bigs both on court & off it, with his professionalism. I'd rather draft Fernando if Memphis want a big. Eventually with Jonas providing the big experienced body, both he & Jaren will be strong enough to play either position seamlessly. Allow Memphis to play small ball, without going small. Fernado is coming in at 240 & is stronger than Jaren who came in at 230. Fernando has potential for a post game, Jaren is a stretch big. Both are mobile & quick.

The only 2 bigs I have interest in, in the 12-20 range are Fernando & Clarke.

I feel like JV is more likely to opt out and go elsewhere or opt in and then leave next offseason unless Ja really comes along in his rookie season. I'm not sure if he is a long term solution. He also is old enough to not quite fit JJJ's timeline so if you can get value for him I think Memphis will have to really consider it.

That's a fair take but there's only one way to know if he's a long term solution.

Trading him now you might get a decent return but I think Memphis will be making a mistake. With more playing time & him still improving, he's going to beef up his trade value. I think they should be looking to retain this asset whether he's a long term solution or not. The explosion of production at the end of the season might be seen as an anomaly but in reality it's his game extended in minutes & touches. Jonas was averaging 13 & 9 on 8 shots for the Raptors in 22mins. That production is hard to do with limited playing time, a lack of touches & limited to no plays called. It wouldn't shock me to see Jonas average more than 20pts for Memphis. If he's afforded the same learning curve as the younger players he'll also get better defensively as well helped by the fact he'll be playing with better perimeter defenders. Then, you'll get a proper return of value if at that point you still want to trade him.

[SD2042]

IMO Memphis already have a true physical 20-10 centre in Jonas to take the lumps, mentor the young bigs both on court & off it, with his professionalism. I'd rather draft Fernando if Memphis want a big. Eventually with Jonas providing the big experienced body, both he & Jaren will be strong enough to play either position seamlessly. Allow Memphis to play small ball, without going small. Fernado is coming in at 240 & is stronger than Jaren who came in at 230. Fernando has potential for a post game, Jaren is a stretch big. Both are mobile & quick.

The only 2 bigs I have interest in, in the 12-20 range are Fernando & Clarke.

I feel like JV is more likely to opt out and go elsewhere or opt in and then leave next offseason unless Ja really comes along in his rookie season. I'm not sure if he is a long term solution. He also is old enough to not quite fit JJJ's timeline so if you can get value for him I think Memphis will have to really consider it.

That's a fair take but there's only one way to know if he's a long term solution.

Trading him now you might get a decent return but I think Memphis will be making a mistake. With more playing time & him still improving, he's going to beef up his trade value. I think they should be looking to retain this asset whether he's a long term solution or not. The explosion of production at the end of the season might be seen as an anomaly but in reality it's his game extended in minutes & touches. Jonas was averaging 13 & 9 on 8 shots for the Raptors in 22mins. That production is hard to do with limited playing time, a lack of touches & limited to no plays called. It wouldn't shock me to see Jonas average more than 20pts for Memphis. If he's afforded the same learning curve as the younger players he'll also get better defensively as well helped by the fact he'll be playing with better perimeter defenders. Then, you'll get a proper return of value if at that point you still want to trade him.

I can get on board with the idea of having JV stay and continue to improve his game and grow his value to next year's trade deadline when it happens. Wit hthe rebuild taking place now, it's best the Grizzlies hold the neccessary cards they have so they can cash them in at the right time with the right team.


As for my selections for my hypothetical:

I'm looking at a couple of guys

SF Nassir Little: aggressive defender with athleticism. very effective in transition on both ends, effective slasher, shot blocker with good time. solid wingspan

He will need to address his perimeter shooting as it is inconsistent right now and his tendencies to be foul prone as his aggressiveness can get him in trouble at times when attempting to force the issue. These issues can be fixable for Little. If he's drafted to the right system and develops his game, I think Nassir could carve a solid career for himself.

C Bruno Fernando is another guy I'm looking at. another aggressive player who can block shots, plays defense, and can clean up the miss shots and is capable of being effective in transition. I will say he needs to develop a perimeter shot as he heavily relies on his athleticism to get him through the game. Fernando is essentially profiled in the DeAndre Jordan/Clint Capela class of center. If he adds perimter shooting to his repritoire he could be more reliable player if and when defneders apply plans to push him out of the paint.


As for the second round pick: I'm focus on a couple of SG scorers

SG Jaylen Nowell: This guy's nature is to score. A humble kid who has heart and is a hard worker. Has the ability to create for himself and be a catch and shoot player as well. Very fluid and quick in his steps, very athletic, a capable slasher. Although he has played the playmaker role at times. Keep in mind this is not his most effective role. He's a decent rebounder who's not afraid to go after the loose ball when neccessary.


SG Tyus Battle

This guy puts me in the mindset of where MC11 was at the beginning of the Grizzlies career. Was introvert and need a confidence booster to rise up to the front of leadership during his time with Syracuse. His leadership and hard work rose to the occasion over time at the Cuse. a strong team, strong mental game, does not shy away from the big moments as he has hit his fair share of clutch shots. Is perimeter oriented, slasher, transition player on the move, shot creator. I can't say how well of a defender he is as the Cuse tends to play zone defense. I did notice that he's a known pickpocket on defense in some of the footage I've seen.

[BarbaGrizz]

What about Matisse Thybulle? He seems to be able to guard 1 to 5 and could a difference maker

[SD2042]

What about Matisse Thybulle? He seems to be able to guard 1 to 5 and could a difference maker

Thybulle would make an excellent 3&D player. He puts me in the mindset of Danny Green and the way he plays. Where he differs from Green is that he has a better handle to an extent and he's more athletic than Green overall. He will need to develop his consistency on offense as his career progresses overtime. If the Grizzlies had all their ducks in a row from top to bottom, I wouldn't mind taking a better interest in Thybulle. Given where the Grizzlies are at this time, I don't see them going for him currently. I can see teams like Philly, GSW, BKN, or S.A. getting Thybulle.