The Memphis Grizzlies played the Golden State Warriors as tough as anyone during the postseason, pushing the eventual champions to a hard-fought six games in the second round. They even led Golden State midway through the fourth quarter of Game 6, on verge of taking the series to a decisive final game before Steph Curry caught fire late.

Making Memphis' losing effort all the more impressive? Ja Morant missed the last three games against the Warriors, sidelined by a knee injury.

The Grizzlies will still be one of the youngest teams in basketball next season. After fighting off the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round then fighting the Warriors tooth and nail without its best player, though, there's even more evidence to believe that Memphis is already prepared to compete for a title—and the front office, unsurprisingly, is acting accordingly with regard to the draft.

According to veteran league scribe Marc Stein, the Grizzlies are making committed efforts to package their pair of late-first round picks to move up in the draft.

“I've heard more and more lately that Memphis (which holds Nos. 22 and 29) has been trying hard to move up in the draft,” Stein reports.

Memphis has enjoyed as much draft success as any team in the league under third-year general manager Zach Kleiman.

Morant was an easy pick at No. 2 overall in 2019, but the Grizzlies found gems with Desmond Bane (No. 30) and Xavier Tillman (No. 35) in 2020, then gambled last year by trading into the top-10 to grab Ziaire Williams after his disappointing freshman season at Stanford, a risk that's already proven worth it. Kleiman was senior director of basketball operations when Memphis took Jaren Jackson Jr. at No. 4 overall in 2018, too.

It's unclear who the Grizzlies could be targeting in their bid to move up this year. Trading two bottom-third first-rounders surely won't net them a late lottery pick, though. Memphis is more likely eyeing prospects poised to be available around the No. 16 overall selection, where some raw, dynamic scoring guards and athletic, versatile forwards could be available. The team also might be looking for potential Tyus Jones and Kyle Anderson replacements if either walks in free agency.

The draft is just a few days away. As June 23rd draws closer and closer, expect to continue hearing the typically aggressive Grizzlies mentioned in trade rumors.