The Memphis Grizzlies made a blockbuster trade earlier in the week when they sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks, and a pick swap including the No. 16 pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft. This move came as a surprise and indicates Memphis’ willingness to possibly transition into a new phase of Grizzlies basketball. The team hasn’t made it past the conference semifinals in the Ja Morant era after being looked at as one of the most promising young rosters in the NBA. Now sitting with a fringe lottery selection, there are many draft targets for the Grizzlies who could fill Bane’s void.
4 Draft Targets for the Grizzlies After the Desmond Bane Deal
Cedric Coward
Washington State’s Cedric Coward would create one of the best fits for Memphis out of any prospect in the draft. His length, athleticism, and improvement as a shooter over his collegiate career make him a great complement alongside Morant in the backcourt. Compared to Bane, Coward has the potential to provide not only phenomenal spacing but high-level defensive versatility, which is something Bane was unable to provide due to his frame. The Grizzlies could see similarities in his game to second-year wing Jaylen Wells, whom they drafted out of Washington State with the 39th pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
One of Coward’s key attributes is his unbelievable 7-foot-2 wingspan. For his size, this separates him from any other wing prospect in the draft. Coward played six games at the Washington State level before a shoulder injury ended his final season with the Cougars. He is a raw prospect, and teams will be placing faith in their development staff to bring the best out of him. However, if those six games are any indication of his talent, the Grizzlies will have plenty to work with.
Nique Clifford
Nique Clifford is another versatile wing who would provide an intriguing amount of three-level scoring ability for Memphis. Bane was a productive three-level scorer for the Grizzlies over his five-year tenure, and Clifford can give the organization the same type of firepower at the wing position. Clifford’s productivity at Colorado State can’t go unnoticed when looking at his leadership qualities and clutch factor in big games down the stretch of their season.
In Memphis, Clifford would be able to fill a variety of different roles and can even relieve the pressure off Morant as the lead ball-handler during some possessions. As a 23-year-old rookie, he may already be close to his ceiling as a contributor. However, his feel for the game will remain valuable for a team still looking to compete in a loaded Western Conference.
Thomas Sorber
With Zach Edey expected to miss an extended amount of time to begin next season, the Grizzlies could want to quickly find a draft target who can offer a solution. Thomas Sorber provides that solution and more for Memphis with his length and athleticism at the center position. He may be viewed as undersized, but his defensive prowess was shown as a freshman at Georgetown, where he averaged 2 blocks per game.
Unlike Edey, Sorber is versatile and can stick with guards when placed on an island. However, once Edey returns, there won’t be a time when there isn’t a defensive anchor on the inside for the Grizzlies. Learning from 2023 DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr. would be extremely influential for Sorber’s development and should set him up for success.
Walter Clayton Jr.
Now, selecting a prospect like Walter Clayton Jr. with No. 16 would be interesting value, and being selected top-20 in the 2025 NBA Draft is likely Clayton’s ceiling, but I can’t excuse how much I like his fit with the Grizzlies. He was a three-point sniper for Florida last season, averaging 38.6% from long distance, similarly to how Bane has been a three-point sniper (41%) for Memphis throughout his career. They have similar strengths, where it becomes difficult to neutralize their impact on the court once they heat up.
Clayton could be a liability on the defensive end early in his career, but the Grizzlies are consistent when it comes to finding valuable 3-and-D wings who give the team productive minutes. Last season, Wells, their rookie wing, provided Memphis with impact production on both ends of the floor and finished on the All-Rookie first team. It shouldn’t be a problem for the Florida star to find minutes as a microwave scorer to begin his tenure.
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