What the Grizzlies could do with the 32nd pick in the NBA Draft
What the Grizzlies could do with the 32nd pick in the NBA Draft
The Memphis Grizzlies have the second pick of the second round but maybe not for longLandon Speck|
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Memphis GrizzliesThe Memphis Grizzlies own one pick in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft going into Wednesday evening, and the team is listening to trade offers for the pick, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
Memphis, like the Knicks at No. 31, is actively fielding offers to move the No. 32 pick for Night 2 of the draft, per sources. So picks 31 and 32 are up for auction in trades around the NBA -- with future assets being proposed. https://t.co/HUbpZCinlB
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2026
Charania says future assets are being proposed, so Memphis would be adding to its war chest of future picks, which is already among the league's deepest. That stash got deeper last night after the Grizzlies made two deals.
The first trade was with the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Memphis trading No. 16 for No. 17 and two future second-rounders. Immediately after that, the Grizzlies traded No. 17 to the Detroit Pistons for No. 21 and three more future second-round picks. Zach Kleiman added five future seconds to his asset pool, and the cost was moving down just five spots.
Memphis presumably got who they wanted at 21 in New Zealand Breakers wing Karim Lopez.
To recap: the Grizzlies moved back from No. 16 to No. 17, then No. 17 to No. 21 -- accumulating five second-round picks to move back just five spots. https://t.co/u3zoRZTOpz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2026
It is worth noting that Kleiman said none of the picks Memphis acquired Tuesday night are in this year's or next year's draft, per the Commercial Appeal's Jonah Dylan.
Zach Kleiman says none of the second round picks the Grizzlies acquired tonight (five of them) are in this year's draft or next year's draft.
— Jonah Dylan (@TheJonahDylan) June 24, 2026
The second round is always filled with trades, especially since the league went to a two-day draft format, giving teams more time to negotiate deals. Predicting who the Grizzlies could trade with and what exactly the return would be is next to impossible.
For now, let's look at some of the best available players heading into round two.
Isaiah Evans | Wing | Duke
A teammate of Grizzlies No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer, Evans was projected to go in the first round in multiple mock drafts. The 20-year-old sophomore averaged 15 points per game on 43/36/86 shooting splits. At 6-6 with a 6-8.75 wingspan, Evans profiles as a prototypical wing with sharp movement shooting skills.
Although the three-point percentage went down from 41.6 percent as a freshman, that was due to a major volume and shot difficulty increase. Evans is a knockdown shooter and took on a much bigger role in year two with the Blue Devils.
His length gives him the chance to be impactful in passing lanes, making blocks and deflections defensively. On the ball, he needs to work on navigating screens and playing with more physicality in general on the defensive end.
Meleek Thomas | Guard | Arkansas
Thomas gained plenty of first-round buzz later in the process, being projected to land in a similar range to Evans. If he knew before the draft that he would slide to the second round, Thomas could have very well returned to Arkansas.
The 6-4 Thomas took a backseat to seventh overall pick Darius Acuff Jr. in Arkansas' backcourt, but Thomas is a bucket-getter in his own right. He might be the best shooter in the class. Thomas excels at shooting off the catch and dribble in almost any circumstance, which can be a bit to a fault sometimes.
Right now, his shot diet is very jumper-heavy, so Thomas will have to put on strength to help his downhill driving game and defensive impact. It is easy to buy into the upside of another John Calipari guard, a coach-to-position connection that has a high hit rate.
Henri Veesaar | Big | North Carolina
Veesaar is another player who had plenty of first round projections, but saw other bigs in his range like Tarris Reed Jr. and Zuby Ejiofor go ahead of him.
Offensively, there is a lot to like. Veesaar at 7-0 is effective around the rim despite having a lean build. His touch expands to the outside, where he shot 42.6 percent from three in 2025-26. It is worth considering how well the shot will hold up at the next level with an uptick in competition and volume.
His defense is likely the reason for the slide. Veesaar is not a great rim protector and lacks the quickness to guard on the perimeter, so he is the kind of big that needs to be paired with a big-time defensive four or five.
Published 1 hour ago
LANDON SPECKHome/News
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
