r/memphisgrizzlies

Let’s go yall got the 3rd pick lfggg who should we target?

The draft and Ja trade rumors get all the attention, but there are also extensions to consider. Ages in parentheses on opening night.

Jaylen Wells (23)

Jaylen had an inconsistent season and there seemed to be an outpouring of negativity in game threads about him after royalplants crashed out and wasn't around to defend him. But Jaylen ended the season on a very strong note: 14.2 PPG on 50/42/81 shooting from February on (22 games, 25.2 MPG). He continues to be an excellent defender on the perimeter, drawing the toughest assignments each night, while taking on a larger offensive role during the tank portion of the season.

Taylor Hendricks (22)

He had a rough start to his time with the Grizzlies (9.4 PPG on 42/31/47 shooting through his first 8 games), but then made huge improvements down the stretch (11.1 PPG on 48/35/78 shooting from that point on with 2.6 stocks. 18 games, 24.3 MPG). A lottery pick in the 2023 draft, he can capably defend multiple positions and play any spot in the front court.

GG Jackson, Jr. (21)

Three years in and GG is still the youngest guy on the team (until the draft at least), and he made a serious leap last season, particularly on the defensive end. He slid into the starting 5 in early February and posted 17/5.3/1.9 on 51/38/75 shooting over his final 27 games (25 starts, 25.8 MPG). Kleiman will almost certainly pick up GG's team option this summer, and both sides could work on an extension during the season.

As of right now, no one on the roster is locked in for the 2028-29 season (Ced, Walt, and Cam have team options) or beyond, so we can expect to see the core of the team's next generation begin to shape up soon, and I hope to see all three of these guys be a part of the team's future.

per sources, Grizzlies are hosting the following for pre draft workouts:

Dion Brown, St. Louis

MJ Collins, Utah State

Brendan Hausen, Iowa

Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State

Malachi Moreno, Kentucky

Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor

**Editing to include others from tracker he has on USAToday site.

Amari Allen, Alabama

Zuby Ejiofor, Saint John’s*

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State*

Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois

*Asterisks indicates they’re scheduled

pretty accurate last year

Some quick hits:

1. Still thinks Cedric Coward is the best player in the 2025 draft class (yes over Flagg and Harper)
2. Like what Ced did this season, thinks the IQ, character, shooting, and build are all there to flourish. Compared his rookie year to SGA
3. Thinks Ced can be a league MVP, but safely comps well to a Cade Cunningham
4. Not as high on Edey and his ability to stay healthy a whole season. Likes Edey as a player, doesn't think you should plan around him due to availability and the way the game is these days
5. Thinks Caleb Wilson over Boozer is an absolute no brainer for us
6. Fears that Boozer does not have the upside Wilson has and is a bad fit with Edey, still very much likes Boozer, just not the fit with us
7. Not high on AJ at all (below Wilson and Booz by a wide margin)
8. Thinks Cedric should play PG for us

With us getting the 3rd pick (power forward) and the sign and trade rumors from last offseason, it seems as if the FO is ready to move off of Santi since he's a player who would be of help to many teams. What kind of trade value are you guys expecting out of him, or do you think ZK would give him up for a move up using pick 16. I think we could easily move to picks 10 - 15 (excluding OKC since they want to consolidate their draft capital).

I think we'll be fine, whoever we end up drafting in this loaded class.

I’ve seen some comments here and there recently about overpaying an RFA on purpose. Here’s why this is probably a bad idea:

• A team should expect to actually get the player if they give them an offer. Yes most teams will match but very real possibility they don’t. If they don’t you’re stuck with a role player on a deal the size meant for a 3rd option

• The idea of “making another team overpay to keep their guy” is a massive risk for almost no reward. Hamstringing a solid team in the west does nothing for the grizzlies, we aren’t competing for a championship next season. And a secondary point which I don’t hear much is, what would doing something like that do to our FOs relationship with other front offices? You don’t want to be known as the team screwing other teams for no self benefit. Trying to fleece on a trade is not the same as jacking up an RFAs price while not intending to sign the player.

I’m not against going after RFAs. But the idea of trying to make another team overpay when we’re not even in a position to compete is just bad GMing.

We are one of the few teams that has a war chest of future picks, a very strong cap situation, tradeable contracts and an existing solid young core.

Zach has every tool possible to make a very strong team if he makes the right moves.