Grizzlies makes NBA Draft history after 2 trades

The Memphis Grizzlies turned the middle of the first round into their own trade desk on Tuesday night, and they walked away having made history.

Holding the No. 16 pick, Memphis moved back twice in a matter of minutes. First, the Grizzlies sent the pick to Oklahoma City for No. 17 and two second-round picks. Then they flipped No. 17 to Detroit and slid back to No. 21, collecting three more second-rounders along the way.

Memphis dropped just five spots in the order and walked away with five future second-round picks for the trouble.

The history came with the pick they kept. At No. 21, the Grizzlies selected Karim Lopez, who became the first Mexican-born player ever chosen in the first round of an NBA Draft.

Lopez is a forward who spent last season with the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s National Basketball League rather than the college route. He profiles as a long, versatile wing with the kind of swing a rebuilding team can afford to be patient with.

The Grizzlies have already moved on from Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ja Morant has spent the offseason at the center of trade talk. The roster is turning over, and the front office is stacking draft capital to fuel whatever comes next.

That stack now runs deep. Between the five new second-rounders and the picks already on the books, Zach Kleiman and the Memphis front office have given themselves a pile of swings across the next several drafts.

The night started even bigger. With the No. 3 overall pick, the Grizzlies took Cameron Boozer, the Duke star who swept the major national player of the year honors as a freshman. Boozer gives Memphis a polished young big to build around while the second-round hoard waits in the wings.

Kleiman read the room. This class was deep at point guard, and a run was brewing. Rival teams were sure Memphis wanted one too, so they paid up to jump ahead. The Grizzlies let them, banked the picks, and took Lopez anyway.

Two trades, five extra picks, and a piece of draft history for Mexico.