Will the Memphis Grizzlies feel any impact from rookies Jake LaRavia and David Roddy this coming season?

The Grizzlies were quite active in the 2022 NBA Draft that took place last June 23. In order to move up in the draft and choose the players the organization wanted, general manager Zach Kleiman made three deals.

In order to move up and draft Jake LaRavia with the 19th overall pick, the Grizzlies struck a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Memphis exchanged two first-round picks (Nos. 22 & 29) to the T-Wolves.

A few spots later, the Grizzlies picked again. De'Anthony Melton was shipped by the Grizzlies to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the No. 23 overall selection and SG Danny Green. With that No. 23 pick, the Grizzlies selected burly Colorado State wingman David Roddy.

Remember that the Grizzlies' 2021–2022 campaign was probably their finest ever. They reached the second round for the first time since 2015, finished as the second seed in the West, and equaled the franchise record with 56 regular-season victories.

Head coach Taylor Jenkins still has a relatively intact core for the coming season. With limited playing time and touches to go around, one big question is: Will these two rookies move the needle for the Grizzlies?

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Jake LaRavia, David Roddy Bold Grizzlies Predictions

2. LaRavia will earn minutes with his three-point shooting

Jake LaRavia, a forward from Wake Forest, saw his stock rise as draft night closed in. He is the embodiment of a modern power forward. He brings a lot of versatility on both ends of the floor. The 6'8 combo forward has the ability to shoot from long distances and defend as many as four different positions.

LaRavia started three seasons in college, the first two at Indiana State and the last at Wake Forest before declaring for the draft.

He was named to the Second Team All-ACC in 2021 after averaging 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. LaRavia received some defensive accolades, but it was his shooting prowess that really shone through. Last season, LaRavia shot an astounding 55.9 percent from the field, including 38.4 percent from beyond the arc. He certainly has a lot of potential to grow into a crucial role player for Memphis and is an underappreciated talent.

As a shooter, LaRavia was particularly excellent at corner threes. That's potentially significant for a team like the Memphis Grizzlies, which has a lot of slashers. If LaRavia can prove to be a reliable floor spacer from either corner, he'll get a lot of burn from coach Jenkins.

Having said that, he will have difficulties creating his own shots at this level. He needs other players to create scoring opportunities for him. Fortunately, Ja Morant is pretty good at doing just that.

The Grizzlies should be happy with the fit of this pick. Now that Kyle Anderson is in Minnesota, there's some daylight for someone like LaRavia to show his wares. Still, it remains a tad confusing why Memphis had to trade not one but two first-round picks for him. Fans will have to wait and see if he's worth it.

1. Roddy will barely see minutes for the Grizzlies

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Next, we have a No. 23 pick who will probably not see many minutes this coming season. Sure, David Roddy had good numbers as the Mountain West Conference's Player of the Year in 2021–22. He averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, after all.

Those numbers, however, won't mean much in the NBA, especially if Roddy will mostly ride the bench for the Grizzlies.

Yes, Roddy can score from all three levels and can be a good decision-maker on the floor. With Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, and even Tyus Jones on the Grizzlies roster, though, there's very little room for opportunity looking Roddy's way.

Remember, too, that Roddy is just 6'5 with a stocky 250+ pound frame. That's atypical of NBA players of similar size. He did have a reputation for his ability to guard multiple positions, but it would be very interesting to see how coach Jenkins will play him, if at all.

In terms of his physique, Roddy may actually be comparable to, say, Luka Doncic. In terms of his skill-set and impact on this squad, however, it would still be difficult to see how he can impact the Grizzlies.