Report: Grizzlies open to trading out of No. 4 pick
The Memphis Grizzlies caught a bad break in the NBA Draft Lottery, dropping to No. 4 in the draft order from their projected slot at No. 2.
As that likely means missing out on both of their preferred targets in Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic, there's a sense around the league that the Grizzlies would be willing to trade the fourth overall pick, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News.
"If you have someone you like in the first few picks, they're the first call you'd make," a rival general manager told Deveney. "They, obviously, were the most disappointed with the way the lottery went and the options they have now. It seems like they want to try to turn that pick into something else.
"Everyone's going to talk before the draft, of course. But Memphis, I think they're the ones who are going to be more ready to do something than others."
Whether they'd be looking to deal the pick for established NBA talent, or a package of picks or long-term assets, is unclear. But the Grizzlies' reticence is understandable; the draft process has not been at all fruitful for the franchise in recent years. In the past decade, exactly two of their draftees (Dillon Brooks and Jarell Martin) have turned into serviceable rotation players in Memphis, with the jury still out on Deyonta Davis and Ivan Rabb. Seven of their last eight first-round picks lasted less than two full seasons with the club.
In other words, just about any other team would likely make better use of the No. 4 pick than the Grizzlies.