The Memphis Grizzlies are in a different position battle than they have experienced over the past three seasons.
During that period, Memphis was competing for a playoff spot. The Grizzlies are currently in a unique position as several injuries and losses have sparked debate over where to pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Grizzlies (23-46) are currently projected to have the sixth-best draft odds based on their standings. Placement in the standings determines the final percentage determined after the NBA Draft lottery.
The better your positioning, the more likely you are to secure the top pick.
The draft lottery will be held on May 12th.
Memphis will likely finish in 6th or 7th place at the end of the season. The Toronto Raptors (23-45) currently have the seventh-worst record. No other team is within three games of the Grizzlies in the standings.
Here are the Grizzlies' draft odds:
Grizzlies remain in 6th place
Memphis is currently in 6th place in the standings. This gives the Grizzlies a 37.2% chance of getting a top-four pick and a 9% chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick. Each of the bottom three teams in the draft order has a 14% chance of acquiring the No. 1 overall pick.
If they finish sixth in the standings, the Grizzlies could finish in the top four, sixth, or even lower. It may sound confusing, but Memphis actually has a better chance of him finishing in the top four or seven than staying at No. 6. The Grizzlies currently have an 8.6% chance of picking No. 6, but the most likely landing spot is No. 7, which is 29.8%. He also has a 20.5% chance of getting the eighth pick, but that probability drops significantly after that.
Memphis won't pick lower than No. 10, which has a 0.1% chance of finishing No. 6.
fall into the seventh influence
There's not a dramatic difference between finishing 6th or 7th at the end of the season, but it's worth noting. The odds of being picked No. 1 will drop from 9% to 7.5%, and the odds of being picked in the top four will drop from 37.2% to 32%.
If he goes No. 7, there will be no thought of him moving up to No. 5 or No. 6 in the draft lottery. The Grizzlies have top-four odds and could finish anywhere from 7th to 10th after that.
The highest probability is 8 slots, and the probability that the Grizzlies will remain is 34.1%. They finished seventh in the standings, with a 19.7% chance of achieving the same spot.
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Grizzlies outlook for the rest of the season
It feels like a seventh place finish in the standings is more likely for the Grizzlies. The team's play improved with the return of shooting guard Desmond Bane from injury. Despite going 0-2 in Bane's first two games back, Memphis looked more cohesive and posed a strong challenge to two of the Western Conference's playoff contenders. That doesn't even take into account the pending return of forward Brandon Clarke, which will only make Memphis stronger.
The Grizzlies have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NBA. Meanwhile, the Raptors have the 11th-toughest schedule remaining. Toronto is expected to lose even more in the future, and the Grizzlies could end up in seventh place ahead of the draft lottery.
