Report: Grizzlies Aggressively Pursuing NBA Draft Trade

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The Memphis Grizzlies are currently slotted to pick 25th in the 2023 NBA Draft, but in a recent article, ESPN's Jonathan Givony said the Grizzlies are "aggressively looking for opportunities to trade up into the late lottery to middle first-round portion."
Memphis has a lot to figure out this summer, including how to navigate the first portion of their season that is expected to come without Ja Morant. The star point guard will likely be facing a significant suspension to begin next season, which leaves the Grizzlies with questions about where additional offensive production will come from in his absence.
In addition to Morant's upcoming suspension, the Grizzlies are also expected to be in the market for a new starting small forward. The team is not expected to re-sign Dillon Brooks, which leaves another vacancy in their starting lineup.
With the Grizzlies expecting to compete for a championship next season, it's unlikely that whoever they draft in the first round will be ready to observe a starting role in their rookie year. That said, this could be why Memphis is reportedly trying to move up. If The Grizzlies could draft a rookie that ready to contribute right away, it could really impact the way they're able to navigate this summer.
There is a lot to figure out in Memphis this offseason, and that seems to be starting with the upcoming draft.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.