Why Grizzlies keep trading down from 16th to 17th to 21st draft picks originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Memphis Grizzlies started Tuesday night by drafting Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 overall pick out of Duke.
After that, they started trading.
The Grizzlies were due to pick at the 16th selection.
Then they moved down to 17th.
Then they moved down again to 21st.
It certainly got confusing for their fanbase.
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Why do the Grizzlies keep trading down?
Memphis is picking up additional assets.
The first trade, down one spot, got them two second-round picks from the Thunder for the cost of moving up one spot.
Then the second one, dropping from 17 to 21, got the Grizzlies three more second-round picks from the Pistons for the cost of moving four spots.
Most likely, the Grizzlies didn’t love the players they could choose from at the 16th spot.
Rather than forcing it, they move down, hope whoever they’re targeting gets there, and then add some second-rounders that either can be nice lottery picks on players later in drafts, or can be used down the road for similar trades like these in the opposite direction.
