Memphis Grizzlies: 2009 NBA Draft
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2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects |
Memphis Grizzlies
2008-09 Record: 24-58
Draft Picks: Lottery (top 3 or picks 6-9), 27, 35
Key Free Agents:
Greg Buckner (Partially guaranteed)
Quinton Ross
Hakim Warrick (Restricted)
How They Got Here:
The Grizzlies had a breakthrough season this year, topping their win totals from the past two years. That’s the positive spin on the fact that they only won 24 games this year. However, all their key contributors are in their early 20s and they have two studs on the wings in O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay.
What They Need:
The basically need to just keep stockpiling young talent, and with three picks this year they can do just that. Even if Warrick comes back, they could use another power forward to throw into the mix. And while Mike Conley Jr. had a solid season - and Mayo has potential to be a good point guard - they could use another lead guard also.
Who They'll Take:
With Ricky Rubio apparently not interested in playing in Memphis (or, more precisely, Rubio’s agent not interested in him playing there), the Grizzlies are left with two options - take Hasheem Thabeet and have him and Marc Gasol form a twin tower combo, or trade the pick to one of the several teams determined to get Rubio. Who they pick as their second first rounder (pick #27) depends on who they take earlier in the night - if they went small early, go big at #27, and vice versa. With their second round pick, just grab the player with the most potential left on the board and hope he pans out.
Memphis Grizzlies Draft History (since 2000)
2008: Kevin Love (5), Donte Greene
(28)
2007: Mike Conley Jr. (4)
2006: Kyle Lowry (24)
2005: Hakim Warrick (19)
2004: Sergei Lishouk (49)
2003: Marcus Banks (13), Kendrick Perkins (27)
2002: Drew Gooden (4), Robert Archibald (31), Matt Barnes (45)
2001: Shane Battier (6), Jamaal Tinsley (27), Willie Solomon (32), Antonis
Fotsis (47)
2000: Stromile Swift (2)
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2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects |
Top Prospects
Stephen
Curry - PG/SG - Davidson
Tyreke
Evans - PG/SG - Memphis
Blake
Griffin
- PF - Oklahoma
James
Harden - SG - Arizona State
Jordan
Hill - PF - Arizona
Ty
Lawson - PG - UNC
BJ
Mullens - C - Ohio State
Ricky
Rubio - PG - DKV Joventut
Brandon
Jennings - PG - Arizona
Hasheem
Thabeet - C - UCONN
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About Jeff Fox
Columnist
NBA Draft & International Hoops
Contact
foxyjj@sympatico.ca
Background
Jeff Fox is a freelance journalist based an hour outside of Toronto, Canada. While attending University of Waterloo (Canada) earning a B.A. in Economics and Management Studies, Jeff managed to walk onto the school’s varsity basketball team, the Warriors, for 2 seasons. His final year riding the pine for the Warriors saw the team make it to the CIS (Canada’s NCAA equivalent) Final 8 tournament. In addition to this site, he is a regular contributor to SLAM magzine (& online) and The Hoops Manifesto. When he isn’t planted in front of his computer he spends the rest of his time with his wife, Lisa, his son, Adam and his dog Jeannie.
Location
Toronto, CA
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