Memphis Grizzlies: 5 reasons Jaren Jackson Jr. was a bad pick
By Amaar Burton
Jaren Jackson Jr. has the potential to become a very good NBA player. But the 18-year-old is not what the Memphis Grizzlies need right now.
The Memphis Grizzlies attempted a slight cosmetic makeover last summer and ended up in the NBA’s version of an episode of “Botched.”
Roster and rotation tweaks — Zach Randolph and Tony Allen out, Tyreke Evans and Ben McLemore in — that were supposed to make the Grizzlies younger, more athletic and theoretically better in 2017-18 simply did not work.
Injuries ravaged Memphis’ lineup. Most notably, star point guard Mike Conley Jr. was sidelined for all but 12 games with a bad Achilles. On top of that, head coach David Fizdale was fired amid reports of a feud with star center Marc Gasol.
The Grizzlies tried to catch up to a league that had apparently become too fast for the team’s signature “Grit-N-Grind” style, and failed in spectacular fashion. When it was over, the Grizzlies had tumbled and (allegedly) tanked their way to the second-worst record in the NBA at 22-60.
After making the playoffs seven years in a row, Memphis missed the postseason by a mile, and the franchise looked like a mess from the outside. In the days leading up to the 2018 NBA Draft, it was reported that some top prospects were hoping to avoid being picked by the Grizzlies, who owned the No. 4 overall selection.
One rookie-to-be who apparently didn’t mind going to Memphis was Michigan State freshman center/forward Jaren Jackson Jr.
Sources: Jaren Jackson Jr., has grown comfortable with the prospect of Memphis drafting him with fourth pick, and provided Grizz officials the requisite personal information they requested. Coach JB Bickerstaff played a big role in selling a vision for Jackson's future there.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2018
It’s never a bad idea to choose a player who actually wants to play for your team over one who blatantly does not. However, I don’t think Jackson was the right pick for the Grizzlies at this stage in their (and his) development. Here are five reasons why.