The Grizzlies held two significant pre-draft workouts Sunday totaling 12 players. There were significant contenders for the #12 pick (Xavier Henry and Luke Babbitt) along with several options for the team’s late-first-round picks. I was there for both workouts and, while I won’t go into great detail on what happened, I’m giving brief notes on each relevant candidate.
Group One:
There were two players in the morning workout who aren’t really in the first-round mix: Marquette’s Lazar Hayward and Michigan State’s Raymar Morgan. Morgan, in particular, had a nice day, but I can’t see the Grizzlies considering either player at #25 or #28.
- Xavier Henry
Xavier Henry (Kansas): Henry, a definite candidate at #12, was the feature attraction in this group and if he didn’t jump out as much as you might expect, there are two factors that have to be accounted for: At 19, he’s several years younger than the other players he worked out against, and he’s probably the best shooter. Heading into the workout, the take on Henry was that he’s a pro shooter with a pro body but that there are questions about his athletic upside and all-around game. And I think those questions — along with ones about his aggressiveness — remain. Based on his size, youth, shot-making ability, and basketball I.Q., Henry should remain on the radar at #12, but didn’t really bolster himself in my mind yesterday.
James Anderson (Oklahoma State): Considered a darkhorse candidate at #12, Anderson was hard to get a read on. He was playing with a minor hamstring injury. He pushed himself through the contact drills — impressive in itself given how common workout cancellations are — but sat out the shooting drills. Nothing about Anderson really jumped out but it’s hard to say how limited he was physically.
