Tony Wroten, No. 25 (Mock)

As most know, we were the trendy pick to make some noise in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. On behalf of the whole Memphis Grizzles organization, we’d like to apologize for our poor showing against the Los Angeles Clippers and subsequent exit in the first round. That was not the post-season impression we were hoping to make. It was somewhat embarrassing.

All, however, is not lost. Far from it. The pieces of the puzzle are in place. There’s no need to blow this team up.

We’re pleased with our starters, most notably Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. The bench showed flashes of promise with OJ Mayo and Marreese Speights playing well when given the opportunity. The positives are many.

One area that we feel needs some improving is depth in our backcourt, finding someone to give Conley a breather from time to time at point guard is paramount. Gilbert Arenas was not a short-term solution. Josh Selby and Jeremey Pargo are works in progress.

While Tony Allen is a defensive stopper, essentially the glue, his lack of production on the offensive end of the floor tends to hurt the team at times. Mayo, on the other hand, was able to give us lift off the pine. Still, we need him to be much more consistent.

That said, picking up a player that fits the combo-guard mold would be ideal for us at this point in the Draft. Truth be told, we’ve had our eyes on a quite a few prospects. So without further delay, let’s get down to business and reveal our all-important selection.

With the 25th pick of the 2012 SLAMonline Mock Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies select…

Tony Wroten from Washington.

There’s plenty of talent still on the board. This pick was based on upside though.

Size and strength are Wroten’s biggest attributes and that intrigues us most about him. His frame is more than ready for the League right now and Wroten figures to create matchup problems whenever, and wherever, he is on out the court during his rookie year.

Granted, playing time figures to be limited, at least initially, given the depth of the Grizzlies. Nevertheless, whether he’s running the show from the point guard position or playing off the ball at the 2 when he comes off of the bench, odds are Wroten will most likely make an immediate impact.

When it comes to talk about him being a floor general, full-time that is, the one thing that Wroten does have going for him is: He’s a willing passer. Good with the rock in his hands, his clever crossover and deceptive change of pace dribble enables him to create separation from his counterparts and find the open man. If called upon to do so, Wroten is capable of finishing in traffic. Both above the rim and after contact has been made below the basket.

There will be times when Wroten slides over to shooting guard and we’re betting that he gets the job done off the ball over the course of time. His mid-range game is good. For the time being. Wroten does need to work on his jumper, especially from beyond the three-point arc. Consistency is key, to be sure. If he doesn’t figure things out, taking a gamble on him could prove to be costly for this organization. Overall, his game is well-rounded. And with a little guidance, Wroten could develop into the steady-type of contributor we’re searching for.

Defensively, Wroten might be hard pressed to keep pace with faster point guards. His lateral movement has shown some all-important sings of improvement, however. He also reads passing lanes particularly well, so in that respect, his basketball street smarts could help make up for his glaring lack of cat-like quickness. If and when he’s matched up against shooting guards, Wroten proved that he could body up the best of them in college. We’re hoping that trend continues at this level. Based on what we have seen during pre-Draft workouts, all sings point to Wroten knowing what he needs to work on. The issues have been addressed. Time to move forward.

In closing, Wroten possesses the tools to excel in the NBA. He has a high ceiling. That’s exactly what we’re looking for in a first-round selection. He’ll need some nurturing, to be sure. But if the past is any indication of what’s in store for the future, Wroten is the perfect pick for us.

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