Jase Richardson to Grizzlies in ESPN NBA Mock Draft to Join Ja Morant After Bane Trade
The Memphis Grizzlies could potentially use the return from the blockbuster Desmond Bane trade to add former Michigan State star Jase Richardson in the 2025 NBA draft.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony projects in his latest mock draft with Jeremy Woo that the Grizzlies will use the No. 16 pick acquired by dealing Bane to the Orlando Magic in order to draft Richardson.
That's a higher projected draft position for Richardson than in Jonathan Wasserman's latest mock draft for Bleacher Report. Wasserman projected the 19-year-old going to the Oklahoma City Thunder with the No. 24 pick.
Richardson averaged 12.1 points on 49.3 percent shooting from the field and 41.2 percent shooting from deep through 36 appearances and 15 starts in his long college campaign for the Spartans.
Givony wrote that Richardson "brings strong defensive intensity and looks adept at playing off the star power of a teammate like Ja Morant, whose future in Memphis is to be determined."
Givony added, "As Richardson's shot-creation diversity and offensive aggressiveness evolve, he could be someone who eventually inherits more significant ballhandling responsibilities, if the Grizzlies decide to pivot toward a youth movement."
The Magic acquired Bane on Sunday as part of a deal that brought Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four first-round picks to Memphis.
Shams Charania said immediately after the Bane trade on ESPN's SportsCenter that the Grizzlies "are signaling privately that they will continue to build around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr."
"The Grizzlies view this as a pivot away from that core of Desmond Bane, Ja Moranta and Jaren Jackson Jr., and allow this team to have a little more youth, a little more financial flexibility going forward," Charania said.
ESPN's Tim Bontemps, meanwhile, reported that "the Grizzlies are not looking to deal either of their two remaining franchise cornerstones," and that the franchise is expected to eventually finalize a long-term extension with Jackson before he hits free agency next spring.
Given those reported plans to build around their remaining two stars, the Grizzlies will need to decide if Richardson would be a good fit with Morant and Jackson before committing to drafting him on June 25.
