Busting Brackets
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NBA Draft 2019: Grading how all 30 teams fared on draft night

By Trevor Marks

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: (L-R) NBA Draft prospects Kevin Porter Jr., Nicolas Claxton, Sekou Doumbouya, Goga Bitazde, Keldon Johnson, Nassir Little, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Rui Hachimuri, Jarrett Culver, Cam Reddish, Coby White, Zion Williamson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Ja Morant, De'Andre Hunter, Darius Garland, Brandon Clarke, Romeo Langford, Jaxson Hayes, Tyler Herro, Bol Bol, PJ Washington, Matisse Thybulle and Mfiondu Kabengele stand on stage with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: (L-R) NBA Draft prospects Kevin Porter Jr., Nicolas Claxton, Sekou Doumbouya, Goga Bitazde, Keldon Johnson, Nassir Little, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Rui Hachimuri, Jarrett Culver, Cam Reddish, Coby White, Zion Williamson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Ja Morant, De'Andre Hunter, Darius Garland, Brandon Clarke, Romeo Langford, Jaxson Hayes, Tyler Herro, Bol Bol, PJ Washington, Matisse Thybulle and Mfiondu Kabengele stand on stage with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 20: Ja Morant poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted with the second overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 20: Ja Morant poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted with the second overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Memphis Grizzlies

Grade: A+

Picks: Ja Morant (No. 2), Brandon Clarke (No. 21)

“Grit ‘N’ Grind” may have died, but by God, a new era of Memphis basketball has begun, and it is bright, it is blinding, it is beautiful – it’s perfect.

Selecting their new franchise cornerstone at the ‘1’ in Murray State’s Ja Morant was in the cards and expected, with the ousting of Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz — for a package centered around Jae Crowder, Kyle Korver, Grayson Allen, and the 23rd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft — only cementing this further.

Morant was the top point guard in the draft class by a significant margin, averaging 24.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 10.0 assists as a sophomore for the Racers, flashing great downhill athleticism, great bounce off of two feet, a dynamic live-dribble game with a bag full of shifty moves, and the best passing vision and passing touch of the entire draft class. He’ll enter the league as one of the best athletes (sub-elite) and best passers (sub-elite as well), and makes for a perfect pick-and-roll partner for Jaren Jackson Jr., who’s a capable threat to roll to the basket or pop out to the perimeter. It’s a match made in basketball heaven.

But there are downsides, unfortunately. His shooting needs to improve, because although his percentages were fine (career 34.3 3P%) and he’s a good free throw shooter (career 81.0 F%), his gather and release are rather slow, with his jumper being more of a set-shot that he can struggle to get off without space. Plus, he projects to be an anemic defender due to his frame, height, recognition, and motor on that end, which is unfortunate. He’ll probably have to be hidden on defense.

What a shame.

How do you compensate for a guard with defensive shortcomings?

You draft the best defensive player in the draft in Brandon Clarke with the 21st pick (acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder for No. 23 and a 2024 second-rounder). .

Brandon Clarke!

There is genuinely no reason for someone as productive and dominant as Clarke — even as an older prospect at 22 years old — to slip this far on draft night. There is no reason. I’ve written about him previously, lauding him as one of the best players in the class. For me, he’s a top-five talent, and he slid to the twenties right into the waiting hands of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Ja Morant in the backcourt with Brandon Clarke and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the frontcourt. That is undeniably the best young defensive backcourt in the NBA, and it has Morant setting them up on offense.

Plus, they signed Purdue-Fort Wayne’s John Konchar, a productive collegiate player who probably should’ve been drafted in the 50s,  to a two-way deal.

What a draft for the Grizzlies.

Outside of the Pelicans grabbing Zion Williamson, the Grizzlies had a phenomenal night.

A new era in Memphis has begun.

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