The Memphis Grizzlies were able to snag two first-rounders in the 2021 NBA Draft: forward Ziaire Williams from Stanford and Santi Aldama from Loyola. The Grizzlies are in a good position now. The fact that they made the playoffs last season is a sign that they're on the right track. They may need some time to unveil their identity but it's crystal clear that Ja Morant will be the front and center of the franchise for the years to come.
At face value, Williams and Aldama seem like the perfect picks for the Grizzlies. However, since basketball is a team game, let's evaluate how the two young guns will fare with the organization's make-up, particularly with Morant.
10th Pick (from New Orleans Pelicans) Ziaire Williams: A+
Ziaire Williams, a 6-foot-8 forward averaged 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists as a freshman with Stanford last season. What stands out the most is Williams' ability to create his own shots — most of which were jumpers from the perimeter. His 37.4 percent clip from the field might raise some concerns. However, let's not forget that NBA teams pick players for their potential which is not really seen through numbers alone. Williams already has good mechanics in his jump shot. Grizzlies shooting coaches will likely make subtle tweaks to perfect it. All Williams needs is to put in the extra work to raise his efficiency.
For all of Williams' abilities to show off that jumper, he seems to struggle taking it all the way to the hole. Williams hasn't developed that elite-level strength which forced him to commit several errors when driving the ball. Also, he doesn't have a deep arsenal of moves in his toolbox. Good for Williams, he won't have to take matters into his own hands in his rookie year for the Grizzlies. Morant, apart from his sheer athleticism, is one heck of a playmaker, too. He averaged 7.4 assists last season and had a knack for spotting open teammates from deep, as well as in pick-and-rolls. Williams will likely take the role of a spot-up shooter with the Grizzlies — a part that he'll do great in.
30th Pick (from Utah Jazz) Santi Aldama: A+
The 6-foot-11 center may be one of the steals of the 2021 NBA Draft. In his sophomore season with Loyola, Aldama averaged 21.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. More than these stellar numbers, Aldama fits the mold of the modern-day NBA big man and should be a nice addition to the Grizzlies.
He's very comfortable handling the ball so much so that he even ran pick-and-rolls in college. He also has that beautiful high-arching jump shot (40 percent overall, 39.2 percent on catch-and-shoot) and also shows tremendous upside as an off-ball player. Though he averaged just 2.3 assists last season, Aldama is a very good playmaker, often showing the uncanny vision of a Nikola Jokic.
Before we forget, the Grizzlies draftee is also an excellent defender. He averaged 1.7 blocks last season. Apart from his impeccable timing, what makes him a good defender is his high IQ on defense. He knows his rotations like the back of his hands. Like most Europeans who enter the NBA, Aldama isn't super athletic but his deep knowledge of the game makes up for everything else.
As always, it's still a matter of wait-and-see if Aldama will do well with the big boys. But as he stands, the Spaniard is oozing with potential. Grizzlies fans should not be surprised if Aldama becomes the team's second star in the next three or four years.
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