So much talk about the Memphis Grizzlies‘ roster has been centered on youth the past five years.

In 2021-22, they were viewed as one of the NBA’s best young groups. They finished second in the Western Conference and were seen as having one of the league’s most promising cores.

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And then the Grizzlies got “unintentionally younger” during the 2024-25 season with the emergence of Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells and their roles in the starting lineup.

The NBA draft has been the key to building rosters in Memphis, but that’s likely to shift this year. The Grizzlies have two picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, both in the second round, at Nos. 48 and 56.

When Memphis traded Marcus Smart to the Washington Wizards at the February trade deadline, it lost control of its first-round pick, which was lottery-protected.

The NBA draft will begin on June 25; the second round will take place June 26.

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Here is how the Grizzlies could use their assets in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Position target?

Memphis has security at pretty much every position on its roster. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ja Morant are locked into multi-year deals at point guard. Wells, Desmond Bane, Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson also have years of security, and the frontcourt foursome of Edey, Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama and Brandon Clarke is fairly strong.

In today’s NBA, you can never have enough wings. The Boston Celtics were a great example of that last season and the Oklahoma City Thunder are proof again this postseason.

Beyond Wells and Bane, the wing position has the most uncertainty and could be where Memphis looks to add more competition.

High-upside targets

Memphis has had success in recent years finding good players in the second round. When it selected GG Jackson at No. 45 in 2023, it got one of the highest-upside players in the draft, who so happened to have a mediocre season in his only collegiate year, at South Carolina.

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Jackson rewarded the Grizzlies by making the second-team All-Rookie squad in 2024.

Potential candidates: Drake Powell, Adou Thiero

North Carolina freshman wing Drake Powell and Arkansas sophomore wing Adou Thiero both fit the mold of high-upside players who could vastly outplay their current draft projections.

Both are projected to go higher than the Grizzlies’ 48th and 56th spots in most mock drafts, but Memphis doesn’t need two second-round picks. Trading up in the second round to get one of these wings would be a solid choice.

Powell has the ability to be one of the best and most active defenders in the class with his size and length. He is 6-foot-6, has a 7-foot wingspan and a 43-inch vertical.

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Offense will be the major determining factor in his success. He shot 37.9% on 3-pointers in college, but his jumper wasn’t quick enough to get off regularly.

Thiero isn’t much of a 3-point threat, shooting 25.6% from deep. However, his defensive playmaking, size (6-8, 220 pounds) and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect.

Playing it safe

Memphis also has found success drafting second-round players who have more collegiate experience and should enter the NBA with defined roles.

Potential candidates: Hunter Sallis, Koby Brea, Tyrese Proctor

At 6-5, Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis is a smooth scorer who can play on and off the ball. If he can improve his 3-point shot, he may be able to return to the promise he once had as a future lottery pick, but his offensive savviness and size bode well for playing alongside Bane or Morant.

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Memphis could lose Luke Kennard this summer via free agency. While Cam Spencer could be an option to fill that role, there’s another player coming out of college with an elite shooting profile. Kentucky’s Koby Brea is one of the best shooters in the draft, though he has defensive and athletic limitations. He shot 43.4% on 3-pointers in five collegiate seasons, totaling 317 makes.

Three-year Duke combo guard Tyrese Proctor has a 3-and-D game made for the NBA. He spent most of his first season with the Blue Devils playing point guard before moving to more of an off-ball role. His versatility and defensive ability could fit in lineups alongside Morant, Pippen and other guards.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies 2025 NBA Draft: Five options for second round