2018 NBA Draft

Memphis Grizzlies

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Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jevon Carter at Redbirds game

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2018 Draft Pick Press Conference & Portraits

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MEMPHIS – From dropping Mocks to now taking stock, my final thoughts on how the 2018 NBA Draft played out for lottery teams.

Picking Deandre Ayton at No. 1 was the no-brainer, but maneuvering to flip their No. 16 pick and acquiring a second lottery talent in reliable Mikal Bridges gave the Suns the biggest impact haul in the draft. They’ll turn the corner quickly coming off the NBA’s worst record. Grade: A+

The Kings may have outsmarted themselves by passing on Luka Doncic and taking Marvin Bagley III, although the Duke big man will contribute in a major way from Day 1. Either way, the Kings were in 'house money' territory by jumping from No.7 pre-lottery to the No. 2 pick. Grade: B

Out of obligation in the three-spot, the Hawks effectively leveraged their real estate entering the draft (locking in on Jaren Jackson) and after it started (selecting/trading Doncic) to arrive at their preferred target: Trae Young. Plus, they snagged a 2019 first-round pick to boot. Grade: A

The Grizzlies landed the two best defenders in the draft. There’s the Indiana native who is a uniquely dynamic power forward. And there’s the lockdown perimeter mauler out of Chicago. No, not Zach Randolph and Tony Allen. But Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jevon Carter. 2014’s Grit and Grind is now 2018’s Fit and Grind. Grade: B

No one aside from Memphis took as hard a blow from the lottery ping pong balls. But the Mavs recovered nicely by trading up for a perfect fit in Doncic and completing the haul with steady, heady Jalen Brunson. They’ll again try to address big-man needs in free agency. Grade: B+

Mo Bamba makes sense because he was the best talent on the board at the time Orlando picked. Now comes the hard part – clearing out the logjam on a roster overstocked on bigs, with vets Nikola Vucevic, Bismack Biyombo and last year’s lottery pick Jonathan Isaac. Grade: C+

Nothing’s sexy or sensational about what the Bulls did. They simply made smart, sensible moves to address needs. Adding sure-bet big man Wendell Carter Jr. and underrated wing scorer Chandler Hutchison to rising star Lauri Markkanan ideally solidifies the foundation. Grade: A

The Cavs are in Keep-LeBron-in-Cleveland mode again, so every move carries significance. Point guard Collin Sexton is already making smart plays by launching that draft night recruiting pitch to LeBron and then a day later sliding into Kyrie Irving’s old No. 2 Cavs jersey. Grade: B+

The Knicks wanted Bamba desperately, but couldn’t execute a deal. Still, former Grizzlies coach David Fizdale came away with one of the draft’s fastest risers in forward Kevin Knox and got center prospect Mitchell Robinson, who was projected as a mid-first round talent. Grade: B

First, the Sixers selected Villanova star Mikal Bridges. It would have been fine to stop there. But then coach and acting GM Brett Brown flipped Bridges to Phoenix for an unprotected 2021 first-round pick, and also acquired guards Zhaire Smith and Landry Shamet for depth. Bold. Grade: B

The Hornets should have trusted their initial instinct. They appeared to shore up backcourt concerns when they drafted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as eventual Kemba Walker insurance. Trading him for Miles Bridges was puzzling, but they also added Devonte Graham. Grade: C-

The Clippers were most active attempting to make trades. They entered the draft process enamored with Michael Porter Jr., but ultimately passed on him and ended up with Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson. So now they’ve got eight guards on the roster. Why? Grade: D

The Porter hype machine, at one point in the pre-draft process, had him potentially rising to the Kings as the No. 2 pick. Then his murky medical situation unfolded and his descent commenced. Rapidly. Still, the Nuggets getting Porter here is a pure case of low-risk, high reward. Grade: B

The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Memphis Grizzlies. All opinions expressed by Michael Wallace are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Memphis Grizzlies or its Basketball Operations staff, owners, parent companies, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Memphis Grizzlies and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.

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MikeCheck: Grind City Media NBA (Post) Mock Draft 4.0

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2018 NBA Draft Party

The Memphis Grizzlies will introduce 2018 NBA Draft selections, forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. and guard Jevon Carter, at a press conference at 2 p.m. Friday, June 22 in the Grand Lobby at FedExForum. The press conference will also be streamed live on Grizzlies.com, through the official Memphis Grizzlies mobile app, on FOX Sports GO and broadcasted live on FOX Sports Southeast. This event is open to the general public with free parking available in the Toyota Parking Garage.

Jackson (6-11, 242), a Michigan State product, was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round. Carter (6-2, 205), who played collegiately at West Virginia, was selected with the No. 32 overall pick in the second round. Both Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace and Grizzlies Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff will join Jackson and Carter in today’s introductory press conference.
In addition, Jackson and Carter are scheduled to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the Memphis Redbirds vs. New Orleans Baby Cakes game today, June 22 at approximately 7:05 p.m. at AutoZone Park. Following the first pitch, Jackson and Carter will meet with fans on the AutoZone Park Concourse.

For more in-depth Draft coverage and all your Grizzlies’ news sign-up for Grizzlies E-News or Grind City Media News at grizzlies.com or visit GrindCityMedia.com, like Grind City Media on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram (@GrindCityMedia).

Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2018/19 Season Tickets can do so by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going online to grizzlies.com. For more information on the Grizzlies, visit grizzlies.com, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow on Twitter (@memgrizz).

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Grizzlies introduce 2018 Draft Picks Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jevon Carter at Press Conference

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace tonight announced that the Grizzlies selected Michigan State University freshman forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. with the fourth overall pick in the first round and West Virginia University senior guard Jevon Carter with the 32nd overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Jackson (6-11, 242) became the second player in Big Ten history to win both Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season after leading the conference and ranking seventh in the nation in blocks per game (3.03) in 2017-18. The 18-year-old set an MSU single-season record with 106 blocks, and he tied the program’s single-game record with eight rejections in a win on Dec. 5, 2017 over Rutgers.

An All-Big Ten Third-Team and All-Freshman Team selection, Jackson started 34 of his 35 games with the Spartans and averaged 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 21.8 minutes while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from three-point range and 79.7 percent from the free throw line.

The Carmel, Indiana native, who was named a 2017 McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American at La Lumiere High School, is the highest-drafted Michigan State product since 1979, when Magic Johnson was selected first overall and Greg Kelser was taken fourth. Jackson’s father, Jaren Sr., enjoyed a 12-year NBA career with nine different teams, winning the 1999 NBA Championship as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.

Carter (6-2, 205) was named the 2017-18 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and selected the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season after starting all 37 games and averaging 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 3.03 steals in 35.5 minutes for the Mountaineers. A 2017-18 Associated Press Second Team All-American, Carter ranked second in the nation in steals per game and was the only Division I player to average at least 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.00 steals.

A native of Oak Park, Illinois, Carter is the fourth Big 12 player and first guard to win conference Defensive Player of the Year honors twice. The 22-year old is West Virginia’s career steals leader (330) and set single-season school records last year for assists (246) and steals (112).

In addition, Carter was named the 2017-18 Arthur Ashe Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year and the Division I Senior CLASS Award winner.

For more information on the Grizzlies, visit grizzlies.com, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow @memgrizz on Twitter.

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Memphis Grizzlies select Jaren Jackson Jr. in the first round and Jevon Carter in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft

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Grizzlies 2018 NBA Draft photos

MEMPHIS – The Grizzlies enter Thursday night’s NBA Draft confident there will be a franchise-altering talent available when they select fourth overall, but are also sorting through multiple attractive trade packages that could entice them to deal the pick.

Both ESPN and Yahoo reported late Wednesday that Memphis is aggressively shopping the No. 4 overall pick, and Grind City Media has independently confirmed from league sources that at least three lottery teams selecting after the Grizzlies are pushing to move up to fourth.

Among teams most linked to trade discussions this week have been the Mavericks (No. 5), Orlando (No. 6), Chicago (No. 7, 22) and the Clippers (No. 12, 13). The Knicks reportedly also intensified efforts to package the No. 9 pick to move into the top six, and were contemplating an offer to the Grizzlies.

As of midday Thursday, the Grizzlies seemed comfortable with keeping both the fourth and No. 32 picks. With Arizona center Deandre Ayton expected to be drafted first by Phoenix, the Memphis front-office staff knows that either Duke’s Marvin Bagley, Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr. or Real Madrid’s Luka Doncic will be left on the board when the Grizzlies are on the clock around 7 p.m. Thursday.

“The craziest outcome is not based on your own indecision,” Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said as team executives finalized draft night preparations. “You have that worked out going into the room. It’s that you don’t really know for certain all the deals that will come your way. You flesh out as many of them as you can, but teams … will come up with their best deal when they know it’s do or die time (on the clock). So there will be a great deal of activity at the end.”

The Grizzlies have made draft night trades 13 of the past 17 years, including each of the past five. Ten years ago, Memphis shook up the lottery by picking Kevin Love fifth and then trading him to Minnesota for O.J. Mayo, who was selected third. Mayo finished second to Derrick Rose for Rookie of the Year and was a key piece on a team two years later that started a streak of seven straight playoff appearances.

That postseason run for the Grizzlies ended with last season’s dismal 22-60 finish. The team’s clearly-stated goal is to rebound quickly and return to the postseason with veteran catalysts Marc Gasol, 33, and Mike Conley, 30, in the midst of max salary contracts.

Last week, in a rare interview on The Chris Vernon Show, controlling owner Robert Pera said he believes last season’s struggles were largely the result of injuries that knocked the team off course a month into the schedule. Conley was sidelined after 12 games and underwent season-ending Achilles’ heel surgery.

“Assuming Marc and Mike come back healthy, I (also) think we have a couple of surrounding pieces that are young players who are going to make a positive impact,” Pera said. “And we’ll get another good player in this draft. I see no reason why we can’t be a 50-plus win team.”

The Grizzlies posted the second-worst record in the league, but slipped two spots to No. 4 on the draft board after the May 15 Lottery in Chicago. For weeks, Wallace has maintained the Grizzlies would explore the trade market in an effort to maximize the return on the pick.

Whether they stayed at No. 4 or dealt to move down in the lottery – via packages that would also shed unwanted salary or acquire veteran help – the goal was to boost an offense that ranked at or near the bottom of the league in multiple categories.

To that end, the Grizzlies biggest needs are for a scoring small forward or power forward. The Grizzlies believe both Bagley, who averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Doncic, the playmaking EuroLeague MVP, project to meet those needs at the NBA level.

But there is also a strong sentiment in Memphis that Jackson could be the most complete talent and best available player on the board when the fourth pick arrives. A willingness to trade down could also put the Grizzlies in range to maintain quality and target Duke’s Wendell Carter Jr., who worked out in Memphis two weeks ago and said Wednesday in New York he was impressed by the city and organization.

While both Bagley and Jackson were among the highly-rated draft prospects to bypass an opportunity to work out in Memphis, both said Wednesday they would welcome any landing spot in the top five.

“It’s always been my dream to get here,” Bagley said of draft night. “And to get here and nitpick where you’re going to go and all of that stuff, it’s not me. Knowing where I came from and knowing what I went through to get to this point, I’ll be happy to get drafted anywhere. That’s how I see it. Whatever I’m going and wherever I’m going, I’m going to put my all into it.”

Regardless of the direction they take, the Grizzlies are digging in for a busy and productive draft night.

“Teams are calling up during that five minutes you’re on the clock and trying to pitch deals to you – it’s a little like you’re seeing the commodities market in Chicago or the stock market in New York,” Wallace said. “But at this point, most of your (draft player) evaluation is done. What I want to walk away with if we exercise the picks at No. 4 and No. 32 are two quality players that we’re excited about and that are going to be a big part of our future.”

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies approach Draft clock contemplating 'Let's Make A Deal/Pick'?

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