Can the 2009 Draft Take the Memphis Grizzlies Out of Obscurity?

Not many teams can say they've accomplished the feat that the Memphis Grizzlies have done since their 1995-96 inaugural season.

To win zero playoff games.

Nearly 15 years now and the Grizzlies, in whichever city they have been in or have been relocated to, have given their fans nothing to look forward to when the regular season rolls around or even the rare postseason appearence.

In three playoff appearences, the Grizzlies are 0-12. Three postseason sweeps in three consecutive seasons. Not only that, but the Grizzlies have recorded only three winning seasons, those being the only times where they have had won 30 games.

In these 15 seasons of obscurity, only one player has ever been named to an All-Star game. That was Pau Gasol in 2006 and the Memphis organization was sure to get rid of their only star for players such as Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and (yikes) Aaron McKie.

They also got the lesser of the Gasol brothers when they received Pau's younger brother Marc in part of the deal. Marc has been a stable center, but he's not nearly the player Pau is.

There is the promising play of Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo, who in time will become all-stars and might drag Memphis out of the basement they have been in since their 49 win season in 2005.

But the Grizzlies need more than Gay and Mayo to bring them to a respected level. Darko Milicic is making nearly $10 million to backup Marc Gasol and Marko Jaric, who is due nearly $7 million to make less than three points per game. This team needs an overhaul and it could find all the answers in a week.

The Grizzlies have been blessed to have the second pick in a stacked draft where it can take a number of options that can benefit the team.

With the number two pick in the draft, the Memphis Grizzlies select Hasheem Thabeet.

Thabeet is an absolute beast under the basket on the defensive side. His size and length is intimidating by itself and just his presence can alter shots. It's the other side of the court that can leave the Grizzlies organization thinking "what if."

Even at 7'3", Thabeet was not much of a scorer and could really only score if close to the basket or off dunks. If he can develop a stable short range jump shot, then he can be relevant on both aspects of the game, but for now he might appear to be another Samuel Dalembert-type player.

The Memphis Grizzlies trade the pick.

Like any other team with a high draft pick, there will be trade speculation. The second pick is valuable this year seeing as how they can get anyone on their team besides Blake Griffin, but the idea of a trade can benefit the Grizzlies.

While they'll miss out on a chance to draft fresh, young talent, they might be able to grab a veteran point guard or a veteran at any position for all that matters, the oldest starter on the team is only 25.

Even with the chance to trade the pick away for veteran leadership, the obvious choice is waiting for them an ocean away.

With the number two pick in the draft, the Memphis Grizzlies select Ricky Rubio.

Rubio is raw talent and has been playing professionally in Europe before he could barely drive a car. He has drawn comparisons to legends such as Pete Maravich and is most notably known by Americans for his performance in the 2008 Olympics.

He may have only had five points in the gold medal game, but to be 18 years old on the biggest stage in the world is great by itself.

Rubio's ability to pass and incredible basketball IQ will surely benefit any team he finds himself on, and he can be picked up by the Grizzlies.

The starting point guard for the Grizzlies now in Mike Conley might have shown promise in his days at Ohio State, but has not made the transition to the NBA that they had hoped for.

Rubio can bring that Euroleague game to the NBA and be the true point guard the Grizzlies need.

The Grizzlies can find themself out of obscurity within a few years if their decisions in the 2009 draft are the right ones and with the aging of other Western Conference teams, Memphis might actually be considered a relevant threat and could maintain stability as a winning team for years to come.