Memphis Grizzlies: The 5 Most Pivotal NBA Draft Moments in Grizz History

With the NBA Draft just around the corner, it usually brings up certain questions like, "Who's the biggest bust in draft history?" and, "Who's the biggest surprise?" and so on.

The Grizzlies first came into the NBA as the Vancouver Grizzlies prior to the 1995-96 season. They have been a somewhat decent team since their expansion, but we are expecting more, as fans.

Memphis is currently 46-34 and tied for the seventh spot in the Western Conference. This is their first postseason berth since the 2005-06 season, and from a fan's standpoint, we are ecstatic.

For the first time since that season, the Grizzlies are not looking at a lottery selection. But there have been plenty of those in the past.

Now, with that being said, here are five of the biggest draft day moments in the franchise's history.

2008: Grizzlies Draft Kevin Love Then Trade Him to Minnesota for O.J. Mayo

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NEW YORK - JUNE 26: NBA Commissioner David Stern shakes hands with number five draft pick for the Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Love during the 2008 NBA Draft at the Wamu Theatre at Madison Square Garden June 26, 2008 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expr

The Grizzlies were picking fifth in the 2008 draft and used their selection on UCLA big man Kevin Love. But he would never don a Memphis uniform, as he was soon part of a trade that sent him to Minnesota for O.J. Mayo, who many considered to be one of the best NBA-ready players.

As this trade happened, many analysts thought the Grizzlies were on the best end of the deal.

However, that was not the case.

Love has turned into one of the biggest surprises in the NBA and has been a double-double machine this season. He is by far the best player on Minnesota's roster and is perhaps one of the most fundamentally sound players in the NBA, next to Tim Duncan.

He is currently averaging 20.2 points and a league-high 15.2 rebounds per game.

Mayo, on the other hand, has fallen out of favor in Memphis and has been the subject of many trade rumors since the 2010-11 season began.

Mayo was suspended for 10 games earlier in the season for violating the league's anti-drug program.

In his three seasons in Memphis, Mayo's stats have steadily declined and he is currently averaging 11.2 points per game, by far the worst of his NBA career. He has also just started 15 games this season, after starting every single game his first two seasons.

Looks like the Grizzlies should have never made the trade.

1995: Grizzlies Use Their First Ever Selection on Bryant Reeves

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2 Nov 2000: Bryant Reeves #50 of the Vancouver Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Grizzlies defeated the Clippers 99-91. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that

The new expansion Grizzlies were ready to use their first ever selection, but one question remained: Who would they take?

After Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett had already gone off the board, there weren't that many highly touted prospects.

So the Grizzlies took Oklahoma State big man Bryant "Big Country" Reeves with the sixth overall selection.

Reeves really isn't considered a "bust," but he wasn't the best player in history.

In a mildly decent career, Reeves played in 395 games for the Grizzlies, averaging a steady 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

However, due to injury problems, Reeves only lasted six seasons and never made it to Memphis, where the franchise moved prior to the 2001-02 season.

2003: Grizzlies Draft Marcus Banks & Kendrick Perkins Then Trade Them to Boston

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CHICAGO - JANUARY 13: Dahntay Jones #30 of the Memphis Grizzlies is seen on court against the Chicago Bulls January 13, 2007 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won 111-66. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by d

In one of the best drafts in NBA history, the Grizzlies held the 13th and 27th overall selections.

With their first selection, they took UNLV's Marcus Banks and with their second selection, the Grizzlies drafted big man Kendrick Perkins.

However, neither would suit up for Memphis, as they were both traded to Boston for their two first-round selections, Troy Bell and Dahntay Jones.

Bell played just six games for the Grizzlies in his rookie season, the only six games of his entire NBA career.

Jones would play four decent seasons in Memphis and was part of all three postseason teams (which means he was also part of 0-12 playoff teams).

Marcus Banks is still in the NBA, although he has never been classified as a "starter."

Perkins, on the other hand, is not a true offensive-minded player, but he is a stellar defensive stud. Considered to be one of the best rebounders in the NBA, Perkins was the starting center for the 2007-08 Celtics championship team.

If the Grizzlies had kept their selections, Perkins and Pau Gasol could have made a great frontcourt combination.

2009: Grizzlies Draft Hasheem "Not the Dream" Thabeet

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NEW YORK - JUNE 25: NBA Commissioner David Stern shakes hands with the second overall draft pick by the Memphis Grizzlies, Hasheem Thabeet during the 2009 NBA Draft at the Wamu Theatre at Madison Square Garden June 25, 2009 in New York City. NOTE TO USE

I've never been more mad at the Grizzlies franchise than I was on 2009 draft night.

The Grizzlies held the second overall selection and used it on Hasheem Thabeet. What a mistake.

With players on the board such as Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings and Memphis Tigers star Tyreke Evans, they made perhaps the biggest draft day mistake in franchise history in taking Thabeet.

Thabeet rarely played for the Grizzlies in his rookie season, and when he did, they were garbage minutes.

In his rookie season, Thabeet became the highest drafted player to be sent down to the NBA Developmental League (previously held by Martell Webster). That was just a sign of things to come.

When he was on the court, he looked lost, to put it simply. He just didn't know what to do while he was on the court and always seemed to get a thrashing from head coach Lionel Hollins.

The Thabeet Experiment was over quickly as the Grizzlies traded him to Houston at the trade deadline this year, which brought once-upon-a-time fan-favorite Shane Battier back to Memphis.

2009-10 Stats: 68 games (13 starts), 3.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks

2010-11 Stats: 45 games (0 starts), 1.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.3 blocks (with Grizzlies)

At the rate he's going, Thabeet will surely go down as one of the biggest busts in NBA history.

2001: Grizzlies Acquire Pau Gasol from Atlanta for Abdur-Rahim and Draft Pick

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27 Jun 2001: NBA Commisioner David Stern congratulates Pau Gasol of Barcelona on being the third pick in the NBA Draft by the Atanta Hawks at the Theatre in Madison Square Garden in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT NOTE TO USER: It is e

The Atlanta Hawks held the third overall selection in the 2001 draft and used the selection on Spain forward Pau Gasol.

However, the Hawks would trade Gasol, along with Brevin Knight and Lorenzen Wright, to the Grizzlies for Shareef Abdur-Rahim and the 27th overall selection, which turned out to be Jamaal Tinsley.

Gasol would go on to be perhaps the best player in the Grizzlies' franchise history, as he helped lead the team to three consecutive playoff berths.

Gasol was also selected to the All-Star Game in 2006 (and coincidentally was the only West player not to score a single point but had double-digit rebounds).

Unfortunately, on Feb. 1, 2008, Gasol was dealt to the Lakers in one of the biggest dumpoffs in NBA history, as the Grizzlies acquired multiple players and draft picks.

But while Gasol was in Memphis, he was always their best player and will continue to be considered that (until Rudy Gay plays a few more seasons).