The #28 Pick

The Grizz got the #28 pick from the Lakers in the Pau Gasol trade (great consolation prize, right?), and while the focus is on their #5 pick at the moment, the #28 is just as important to a franchise with as many holes as the Grizzlies.

Even if they take a post player with their first pick, I still think they should look big with the #28, unless they're comfortable with the pathetic rotation they currently have at the four with Hakim Warrick starting and Brian Cardinal.

I don't know that much about international prospects this season, especially the ones that seem to have just come out of nowhere over like Nathan Jawai, but from everything I read on Jawai, he'd fit the Grizzlies perfectly, especially if they land Lopez at #5. The only thing I want clarification on is his ability to run the floor. He said in a recent interview with nbadraft.net that one of his biggest strengths is his speed, but their player profile for him says that his lack of foot speed is one of his biggest weaknesses. If he can get out and run though, I'd be behind drafting him, even though I've never seen him (which is a big leap for me... I've always been one of those stubborn 'I call em like I see em' kinda guys, not really taking anyone else's analysis). I also like all the reports of his aggressiveness and toughness. After watching a string of physically or mentally weak post players like Pau Gasol, Jake Tsakalidis Stromile Swift, Hakim Warrick, Darko Milicic, and Kwame Brown, that'd be extremely refreshing to see in Memphis.

Here's how I'd rank the prospects as candidates for the Grizzlies' #28 pick -

1 - Robin Lopez - He'll probably be long gone by this point, but if he slips, and especially if his brother is the Grizzlies' first pick, he'd be a no brainer at #28. The Grizzlies haven't had a defensive minded post player in a while (or an effective one at least), and Robin's really come a long way in a short time in terms of improving his offensive game. He'd be the ideal pick for the Grizz at this spot, both in the short and longterm.
2 - J.J. Hickson - Sort of like an inconsistent (or "unpolished" if you want) but more powerful version of Hakim Warrick at this point, but he'd be a good long term investment for a team like the Grizzlies that are at least two or more years away from contending for the playoffs again.
3 - Nathan Jawai - Again, he's the one mystery of this part of the draft to me, but what I read about him makes him sound like the perfect pick for what the Grizz need at the moment. He sounds like he'll be an immediate asset and has room for growth.
4 - D.J. White - He doesn't have a high ceiling potential wise, but he'll be a valuable asset to have on the roster for a long time. Like the theme with the rest of my picks, I really like his strength, aggressiveness, and toughness. The Grizzlies have lacked that for such a long time that I think they should definitely focus on getting a player that can play the Charles Oakley role for them both now and into the future.
5 - DeVon Hardin - I like Hardin as a long term investment. He's a defensive presence, has both the strength and athleticism to fit the Grizzlies system, and he's a good character guy. I think the Grizzlies could do a good job of helping him realize his potential.

Who I'd stay away from - Alex Ajinca (Sene pt.2; the focus has been on him for a while and he hasn't really improved much), Joey Dorsey (I really hope the Grizz don't get baited into drafting him just because he's a hometown favorite, but I have a funny feeling that's what will happen on draft night; they desperately need fans in the seats, and most of the people who care about basketball in Memphis are into the Tigers, not the Grizzlies), Roy Hibbert (Another Jake Tsakalidis; a massive post presence that's just too slow to contribute in an uptempo offense)