Memphis Grizzlies: 5 options for pick No. 32 in 2018 NBA Draft

2. Aaron Holiday

If Holiday looks very familiar, it’s because he’s the youngest brother of current NBA players Justin Holiday (Chicago Bulls) and Jrue Holiday (New Orleans Pelicans). Basketball clearly runs in this family’s genes.

Memphis needs scoring in the worst way. For the 2017-18 season, the Grizzlies ranked 29th in scoring, averaging a paltry 99.3 points per game. They also played at one of the slowest paces in the league, averaging only 94.9 possessions per game; which also ranked 29th. Some of that can be attributed to the slew of injuries the Grizzlies suffered, but it can also be attributed to their lack of personnel. That’s why it’d be a good thing if the Grizz drafted Aaron Holiday.

During his first two seasons at UCLA, Holiday was viewed as more of a spot-up shooter. The 3-point percentage was there (41.9 percent his freshman year, 41.1 percent his sophomore season), but the scoring was a bit lacking (10.3 and 12.3 points per game his freshman and sophomore seasons, respectively). While Holiday plays the guard position like his older brothers, his lack of assists hurt his case to be anything more. Then, his junior season happened.

Holiday became the featured option in UCLA head coach Steve Alford‘s offense by default, but boy did he deliver.

Holiday increased, well, everything. His scoring average jumped to 20.2 points per game, he drilled 42.9 percent of his 3-pointers (on a 2.6 increase in 3-point attempts), and took nearly five more shots a game. His field goal percentage dipped a bit from his sophomore season (down to 48.6 percent from 53.6 percent), but that is nothing more than a result of his increased offensive workload.

The Bruins may have finished with 21-12 record, but Holiday was the reason why they didn’t lose more games. For a team that lost a lot of close games last season, Holiday could easily add 5-10 wins based on his offensive firepower alone.