If you look at the record, the Suns and Warriors are the league's biggest winners this season. The former ranks first in the league and has been gaining momentum lately. The latter ushered in Thompson's return, the second in the league, and Curry and Wiggins were also selected as all-Star starters this season. But in the long run, the real winner of this season is actually the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are not only third in the league after the Suns and Warriors. With the Lakers and Jazz in hand, the first round picks, the future Grizzlies will definitely have to do a lot.
Grizzlies core Morant exploded this season, averaging 26+6+7 all-around stats per game, being selected as an All-Star starter and leading the team to achieve the third best result in the league with 33 wins and 17 losses. The Grizzlies are not a problem making the playoffs this season, and with their current form, it is possible to hit the Western Conference semifinals or even the Western Conference Finals. Regardless of the Grizzlies' record this season, their future is bright.
The Grizzlies had a first-round pick from the Lakers, which was a very special one, when the Lakers and Pelicans traded to get a first-round pick from Davis. The first-round pick was also used last summer when it traded Valanciunas and Adams. In order to get Valanciunas, the Pelicans packed the first round with Adams and sent it to Memphis. It was the Grizzlies' first-round pick.
The second first-round pick came from the Jazz, who took a first-round pick to sign Conley. The final first-round pick was the Grizzlies themselves. The three first-round picks were the 14th pick, 24th pick and 28th pick. Many scouts revealed that this year's NBA draft is another quasi-big year, and there are many excellent stars.
The Grizzlies have found a lot of talent in the draft these seasons, not to mention Morant jr. Dillon Brooks, Clark, Bain and this year's rookie Williams have all quickly shown their strength and shine in the team after entering the league. The Grizzlies have three first-round picks in hand, and theoretically they can pick three good young players, and the chances of finding treasure will naturally be greater. And that's just the first option, the Grizzlies have a lot of young players at the moment, and they're basically taking shape. If the Grizzlies want to further improve their strength, the most direct way is to sign or trade free agents.
Since Memphis is a small ball city, it is not easy to sign a star. So trading is a viable method. First-round picks are a valuable asset in a deal, and many teams in the NBA will prioritize first-round picks when trading. The Grizzlies have three first-round picks in hand tomorrow and may have more confidence when negotiating a deal.
The rebuilding of the Grizzlies can be used as a textbook, with the selection of Jackson Jr. just the beginning, and the selection of Morant is the real change. The Grizzlies focused on building a lineup with Morant at its core, clearing the way for Morant to move forward. The Grizzlies have stood out from the West's top brass this season, and their record is even better than last season's League No. 1 Jazz. This young team, although young, is very sophisticated and full of energy from the scene. People will undoubtedly expect more from this team. What's even more frightening is that the Grizzlies still have enough chips in the future, and they have too many means to build the team to become strong. Dear readers, what do you think the Grizzlies can achieve this season? Feel free to leave a comment in the comments section below the article.