One of the worst seasons in recent franchise history has the Memphis Grizzlies back in the lottery portion of Thursday’s NBA Draft, leading the franchise to the No. 9 pick in the first round of the two-day event.
This year, Memphis has three picks to try and rebuild around, in the ninth pick in the first round and a pair of selections in the second round that the club acquired from the Brooklyn Nets (No. 39 overall) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 58 overall).
While no one can be sure which way GM Zachary Kleiman is leaning right now, BetTennessee.com used Tennessee sportsbooks to break down some hypothetical odds on who the Grizzlies could go with at No. 9 in this week’s draft.
Memphis Grizzlies Draft Picks 2024: Projected Picks
Round | Pick # |
|---|---|
1 | 9 |
2 | 39 (via BKN) |
2 | 58 (via OKC) |
This year, Memphis has three draft picks, in the No. 9 pick in the lottery that the club got from going 27-55 (.329) in the regular season and getting an unlucky bounce of the proverbial Ping-Pong balls during the 2024 NBA Draft lottery.
Throw in two second round picks from the Nets and Thunder and you have the full cast of picks that head coach Taylor Jenkins and Kleiman will use to try and get Memphis back into the postseason after a one-year hiatus in 2023-24.
Memphis Grizzlies Draft Needs 2024
At the moment, Memphis’ needs are far and wide, with star guard Ja Morant rehabbing his way back from shoulder injury that happened shortly after he returned from his 25-game suspension for gun-related incidents during last offseason.
Top Needs For Grizzlies |
|---|
Center |
Small Forward |
Backup Guard |
That why we see the Grizzlies targeting a backup guard to try and spell minutes for Morant, in combo with a pair of frontcourt slots at center and small forward, which could help Memphis stretch the floor better in 2024 and beyond.
Memphis Grizzlies Mock Draft: 9th Overall Pick Odds
These odds are exclusive to BetTennessee.com and likely unavailable on Tennessee sports betting apps.
Player | Odds | Percent Chance |
|---|---|---|
Tennessee F Dalton Knecht | +275 | 26.7% |
G League Ignite F Ron Holland | +300 | 25.0% |
Providence G Devin Carter | +500 | 16.7% |
Kentucky G Rob Dillingham | +900 | 10.0% |
France F Tidjane Salaun | +900 | 10.0% |
Other | +800 | 11.1% |
Keep an eye on homegrown talent Dalton Knecht of Tennessee this draft cycle, as Fargo native who was the SEC Player of the Year in Knoxville in 2024 comes into draft week as the +275 odds-on favorite to go to Memphis in the draft.
Throw in G League Ignite forward Ron Holland at +300 and Providence guard Devin Carter at +500 and you have the upper end of the Grizzlies’ draft odds board right now, while longshot candidates include Rob Dillingham of Kentucky and French forward Tidjane Salaun (+900 each).
Grizzlies Draft Picks of the Past
Whoever gets picked in 2024 by the Grizzlies will look to follow in the footsteps of last year’s second-round pick GG Jackson out of South Carolina, who overcame a low draft pick spot to average 14.6 points per game and a player efficiency rating of 13.7 (with 1.2-win shares in total) in 48 games.
Memphis Grizzlies Draft Picks 2023
Draft Position | Player | Previous Team | Current Career Win Shares |
|---|---|---|---|
2.45 | GG Jackson | South Carolina | 1.2 |
2.56 | Tarik Biberovic | Bosnia & Herzegovina | N/A |
Throw in European import Tarik Biberovic, who has yet to make the trek overseas, and you have the full rundown on who Memphis wound up with at last year’s NBA Draft, with both prospects looking to help get the Grizzlies back to respectability on the court in 2024.
Memphis Grizzlies Draft Picks 2022
Two draft cycles ago, Memphis had one draft selection, that being Vince Williams out of VCU, with the 6’4 guard from Ohio going with the 17th pick in the 2nd round and going on to average 8.2 points per game and 2.7-win shares across 67 NBA games with the club.
Draft Position | Player | Previous Team | Current Career Win Shares |
|---|---|---|---|
2.47 | Vince Williams | VCU | 2.7 |
Williams played in the most games of his young career (52) this past season, averaging career highs for points (10.0), rebounds (5.6) and assists (3.4) per game, while connecting on 44.6% of his shots and 37.8% from behind the arc.
Stay with BetTennessee.com for continued coverage of the Grizzlies NBA Draft and take advantage of our best Tennessee sportsbook promos before you place your next wager.
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Author
Christopher Boan writes for BetTennessee.com and has been covering sports and sports betting for more than seven years, with experience at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
