Previous Picks:
1.) Chicago Bulls, Michael Beasley, Kansas State
2.) Miami Heat, Derrick Rose, Memphis
3.) Minnesota Timberwolves, D.J. Augustin, Texas
4.) Seattle Supersonics, Jerryd Bayless, Arizona
The NBA Mock Draft Series continues...
Like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis only won 22 games this season.
After using the fourth overall pick last year on a point guard (Mike Conley Jr.), Memphis can focus on another position this year with the fifth overall pick.
We know that first year head coach Marc Iavaroni will return next season, despite a horrible outcome in his first season.
While Memphis has some work to do in their rebuilding process, they have two talented point guards in Mike Conley Jr. and Kyle Lowry. Not to mention their best player Rudy Gay will be returning along with Juan Carlos Navarro.
| “You look at Cleveland and New Orleans and how they’ve become successful through the draft. It’s awful hard to get there by paying large amounts of money for free agents who are toward the ends of their careers. We have decided that the way to get there is to build the nucleus. You can use free agents to fill a spot or two but not to create a superstar. The point is that the core of this team is made up of people we primarily picked up in the draft.”--Michael Heisley, Grizzlies Majority Owner |
The Grizzlies' have tremendous upside to become a playoff team once again, but they lack a low-post presence after making one of the more questionable trades in recent memory.
They gave up their best (and probably only) good low-post player Pau Gasol in exchange for Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton.
Memphis could come out of this year's draft as a winner if they make the right move with the fifth overall pick.
Position They Should Draft: PF/C
Who They Should Draft: Brook Lopez, Stanford, PF/C
If Memphis wants a better option at center than Kwame Brown, Jason Collins and Darko Milicic, Brook Lopez may be the guy to go with. Lopez is 7'0'' 260 pound guy who is a good low-post scorer. He can score with his face to the basket, as well as his back to the basket with the hook shot he performed many times during his tenure at Stanford.
He has great hands, coordination, timing and was good at drawing his defender into fouling him in college.
Problem is, he could turn into a role player in Memphis, so is he really top five worthy? He appears to be the best big man is this year's draft, and if he's available Memphis should take a chance on him.
Second Option: DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M, Center
Nice length and athletic ability for his size (7'0")—but could take time to develop.
And according to some, Jordan has high potential of become a draft bust.
If they don't a big, who should they draft?: O.J. Mayo, USC
Great scorer, has NBA range and can even play some perimeter defense. If Memphis doesn't draft a low-post player, Mayo would be a great complement to Rudy Gay.
Michael Whittenberg, a senior writer for bleacherreport.com, is also one of two NBA Community Leaders.
Information from Yahoo Sports was used in this article.
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4 months ago
If Mayo is still available here, which I don't think will be the case, then they should certainly draft him. If not go with the Italian, Gallinari, who I think is the the third best player in the draft behind Beasley and Mayo (sorry Rose, but three good NCAA tourney games shouldn't make you #1 overall). The Grizz have cap space and could easily go after Okafor, or get a serviceable big in a trade (Randolph from NY) - (Detroit may have a couple) since they have a glutton at the PG position with Conley, Crittendon and Lowry. I know a lot of teams want to draft Brook Lopez this high, but I just don't don't see him as having lottery value. A good NBA career yes, but lottery pick, absurd. If teams were smart they wouldn't waste lottery picks on players this high just because of size. If everybody just waits two or three years you can get him at mid-range salary, instead of being locked into a bidding war for a player with 'potential'. Just ask Milwaukee what they could've done with Deron Williams or Chris Paul instead of Andrew Bogut, who was drafted #1 strictly because he was a seven footer.
4 months ago
I don't know if Minnesota can pass up on O.J Mayo at #3, and Seattle has to think about getting him if he drops to #4. This will be very interesting to see how this draft comes out. I look forward to following more of your mock draft
4 months ago
whose to say that Minnesota wouldn't pick up Lopez to use his speed at PF with Jefferson at C when he can shoot well on the perimeter and is a great defender. At that I'm sure Seattle is licking their chops for a good C with John Petro and Francisco Elson yet to prove why they would be good for Seattle. Brook Lopez is a hot commodity in this draft, and if someone wants him, they will at least trade up to get him because everyone is looking to take him asap, especially Seattle and Minnesota both ahead of Memphis.
from 4 months ago
I think Seattle and Memphis should take a point guard before a big man. All three could use Lopez, but I think Memphis needs him the most. Hell, they just need a good center.
4 months ago
Seattle needs a PG for sure, but Memphis already has three PG's who were top 20 picks and two of them were lottery picks. That's the LAST thing they need is another PG. Like I said, The Grizz have cap space. Why not draft a wing player and make a move on Okafor or one of the Knick's big men?
4 months ago
I agree with Curly. A move for Eddy Curry should fill a need for the Grizz. It's possible and cost effective as shown here:
http://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/26700-How-to-Fix-the-New-York-Knicks-Before-Opening-Day
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