The Memphis Grizzlies had a busy night on Thursday, as the front office reeled in four new rookies to the roster. We won't know how these selections will pan out, as the prospects need time to adjust to the professional level. After being one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference this previous season, this franchise hopes these rookies can make an impact to make a deeper playoff run next year. With that in mind, we provide grades for all of the picks and trades the Grizzlies made in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Three-point shooting was a clear priority for Memphis, as they acquired multiple shooting threats to the roster. It makes sense considering the league is so three-point heavy and that style of play will compliment Ja Morant's and Jaren Jackson Jr.'s skill sets nicely. The Grizzlies had an obvious plan for the NBA Draft and walked away with a nice haul of prospects.
Additionally, Memphis did trade DeAnthony Melton away to reel in David Roddy. They also picked up Danny Green in that deal, so it'll be interesting to see how the front office moves forward with the roster. Regardless, the Grizzlies are in a great position to retain dominance in the regular season. If any of these rookies can make an immediate impact, then this franchise might just make that deep playoff run they've been hoping to achieve.
With that said, here are our grades for the picks and trades made by the Grizzlies in the 2022 NBA Draft.
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Grizzlies 2022 NBA Draft Grades
Jake LaRavia – B+
The Grizzlies traded up to select Jake LaRavia 19th overall. He's not crazy athletic, however, his game is solid all around. LaRavia has the potential to become a consistent rotational player who can provide consistent shooting, dribbling, and passing. Depending on how quickly he adjusts to the NBA, he could make a huge impact for Memphis late in his rookie year. Look for Jake LaRavia to be a consistent contributor for the next few years at least.
David Roddy – B
David Roddy is an undersized power forward who also played center during his time in college. He has a tendency to crash the boards and is a great three-point shooter as well. On top of that, Roddy is solid defensively making him an intriguing prospect for the Grizzlies, which makes him one of their better picks. He'll need time to develop his game, but he is a phenomenal addition to the Memphis rotation.
De'Anthony Melton trade for Danny Green & Pick No. 23 – C+
De'Anthony Melton is a great backup point guard and the Grizzlies will miss that production. This trade allowed the front office to acquire David Roddy, which does make up for the loss of firepower at the guard position. Memphis also acquired Danny Green in the trade and it's unclear what his role or future with the team holds. We'll see how it plays out, but hopefully, the front office finds a suitable backup point guard in free agency to replace Melton.
Kennedy Chandler – B-
If everything plays out correctly, Kennedy Chandler can become a legitimate backup for Ja Morant. He's a strong ball-handler, passes the rock well, and is decent beyond the arc. On top of that, Chandler plays his guts out on the defensive end, making him a unique hustle player for the Grizzlies. He will have to develop his game though, but he has the potential of becoming a stand-out player off the bench and a fan favorite.
Vince Williams – C-
Although he's not athletic, Vince Williams makes up for it with his overall feel of the game. There are plenty of areas for him to develop, as he wasn't all that consistent on offense. Even so, the Grizzlies acquired a solid perimeter defender who can become a great rotational shooting guard for Memphis. That's especially true if he can further develop his three-point shooting.
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