MikeCheck: With No. 3 NBA Lottery pick in tow, Grizzlies sizing up head-of-class draft prospects
Michael WallaceNBA Combine starts Monday as Memphis owns three of top 32 picks in June’s draft
CHICAGO – Zach Kleiman vowed the Grizzlies wouldn’t need long to retool the roster into a winning team that could compete at a high level in the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies president of basketball operations and general manager is now positioned to take a significant step forward in that process.
Emerging from the NBA Draft Lottery with the No. 3 pick puts the Grizzlies in line for a potential franchise-altering young prospect from a class considered one of the most dynamic in decades. The good fortunes came Sunday, when Memphis entered the lottery with the sixth-best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick, and a 37.2-percent chance to jump into the top four on the board.
After Washington and Utah landed the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, the Grizzlies’ combination of four numbered ping-pong balls – 13-4-10-6 – delivered the third pick. Chicago then won the fourth pick, joining Memphis as the second team to rise above its slotted odds.
As NBA officials confirmed the Grizzlies won the third pick, Kleiman nodding affirmingly from his seat in the sequestered lottery drawing room at Chicago’s Navy Pier. He then shook hands with rival executives next to him along a front-row table directly across from the lottery machine.
Following the lottery, Kleiman assured the franchise is eager to get back to work evaluating all prospects and roster improvement options ahead of the June 23-24 NBA Draft in New York.
Memphis owns three of the top 32 picks in the upcoming draft, with the No. 3 and No. 16 selections in the first round and the No. 32 choice near the top of the second round. It marks the third straight year the Grizzlies are drafting lottery talent. Last summer, Memphis added swingman Cedric Coward with the No. 11 pick and selected center Zach Edey at No. 9 in 2024.
When the Grizzlies dealt veteran guard Desmond Bane last summer and two-time All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. at the February trade deadline, Kleiman said the franchise would move toward “a younger build.” Now stocked with 13 first-round draft picks over the next seven years, the Grizzlies can potentially fast-track the process of rebuilding a contender.
“This may be the deepest and most talented draft class we’ve seen in the last 30 years,” former NBA executive and current ESPN Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks said at the Lottery. “There are fantastic prospects across the board, and you’ve got elite-level franchise players at the top.”
The Grizzlies’ No. 3 pick falls within range of what national analysts consider a consensus top four among freshmen All-Americans in BYU forward AJ Dybansta, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke big man Cam Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson.
Beyond that top group is a highly-regarded crop of lead guard prospects in Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr., Illinois standout Keaton Wagler and Houston’s Kingston Flemings.
Dybansta is the presumptive No. 1 pick, but the next set of prospects could fall in any order. Moments after the lottery results were revealed, many young stars stated their respective cases to Grind City Media for what they would bring to their future NBA teams.
“I’m betting on myself to be the No. 1 pick, but I can play anywhere,” said Dybansta, who led the NCAA in scoring at 25.5 points per game. “We are a crazy-talented group in this lottery. You’ve seen it this year. I believe we’ll be one of the best ever classes coming into the NBA.”
Peterson acknowledged there may be some questions throughout the draft evaluation process about his health and inconsistent availability at Kansas. But he plans to assure NBA executives starting this week that he’s ready to be the best player in the draft.
“I guess I won’t really know how they really feel about me until I’m taken in the draft,” said Peterson, who set a Kansas freshman record by averaging 20.2 points but also missed 11 games. “I can’t play in anymore (college) games, but I’m feeling better than ever, like myself again. What happened in the past is behind me. I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”
Boozer, a son of two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, was statistically the most productive player in the nation at Duke. Coincidentally, two teams his father played for – the Jazz and Bulls – are picking in the top four of the draft. Boozer believes his team will thrive wherever he lands.
“My resume speaks for itself, man,” said Boozer, the NCAA Player of the Year. “So, if a team wants to hang a (championship) banner in the rafters, I’m definitely their guy. All of these guys here, we’ve been playing against each other since eighth grade. People have been talking about how special this class is and we showed it. We’re going to keep showing it at the next level.”
Before he left the draft lottery ballroom, Wilson glanced at the massive digital board displaying the post-lottery pecking order of NBA teams. He read each of the top four teams out loud before he analyzed where he’d fit best after averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in a season shortened by two hand injuries.
“Me being at one, two, three or four, I feel great,” said Wilson, who confirmed he will be available for NBA summer league play. “I’m excited to show my talent and skills in these coming months, starting with summer league. Whatever team is there that needs what I bring to the table, they’ll see. I’m going to keep working to be a great player for whichever team selects me.”
The focus now shifts from the Lottery to the NBA Draft Combine, which starts Monday. Team executives will meet with draft-eligible players for interviews in Chicago. Some players will participate in drills, measurements and scrimmages throughout the week in Chicago.
Critical evaluations are in full effect.
As for next steps with the Grizzlies heading toward June’s draft?
Their options are as limitless as this talent pool of impressive prospects.
Published on May 11, 2026
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