While all the focus for the Grizzlies draft has been on the #2 pick, the team also has picks at #27 and #36 and the roster spots to absorb them. I preparation for Thursday’s draft, let’s take a quick look at all (or at least most) of the reasonable options at those two spots, taking into account their Grizzlies workouts (where applicable), their combine results, whether I’ve heard them talked about by any team officials, and a general feel for how their game looks to shape for the next level. To give a sense of where these players are expected to go in the draft, I’ve included in parenthesis their current mock draft slot according to DraftExpress.com, Chad Ford, and NBADraft.net (in that order.)
Slippage Candidates: Last year, the Grizzlies didn’t expect to see Donte Greene or Darrell Arthur at the end of the first round and someone projected to go much earlier is likely to slip down this year as well. Based on conversations with Grizzlies officials, there seem to be the most likely candidates to fall. Most of these players will be off the board by the time the Grizzlies pick at #27, but the thought is that one or two of them might fall:
Sam Young (18, 21, 31) — Very popular among some in the Griz front office and fits a clear need as a back-up three who can both defend and shoot, so would be a near-certain pick at #27 if he drops. My concern is his age — 24 — and the fact that he didn’t become an impact college player until his junior season. Is he really this good or was he a man beating up on kids in college?
DeJuan Blair (21, 13, 22) — Questions about his knees seemed to have his stock plummeting, but now he seems to have stabilized and probably won’t be on the board. If he is, he’d be hard to turn down at #27, but I sense the team has plenty of doubts about him, so he picking him even that low wouldn’t be a given.
Eric Maynor (23, 24, 21) — A big-time producer in college. Probably not there at #27, but with his size (over 6’3”) and skill would be an attractive pick even with the team not pursuing a point guard.
Ty Lawson (13, 17, 17) — I’d be very surprised if he was there at #27 but he was mentioned to me as a possible dropper, so I’ll thrown him on the list. Not a need, at all, but I don’t know how you’d pass on him that late. Big-time talent in a small package. I believe in him as an elite back-up. Beyond that, I don’t know.
BJ Mullens (15, 18, 15) — This year’s DeAndre Jordan. Top high-school big man flails through a year of college. Rumored to have a promise in the mid-first. If not, could drop. Haven’t detected much enthusiasm from the Grizzlies, but if he’s there they’d have to consider it.
Austin Daye (22, 15, 35) — Long and skilled but hasn’t shown it on the court. An all-upside pick that, like Mullens, I haven’t heard much interest in from the Grizzlies.
Chase Buddinger (28, 25, 20) — 6’7” backcourt size, deep three-point range, and raw athleticism make him attractive, but he never really put it all together in college and there’s the thought that his explosiveness doesn’t translate to the basketball court. Doesn’t have to be a leading man at the next level though, so his ability to both spot-up and finish strong in transition could make him an excellent role player.
The rest of these players are likely to be available at #27 and many of them at #36. I’ve divided them into types, with the idea that the Grizzlies are probably unlikely to pick two players from the same group.
