The Memphis Grizzlies could land the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Should they take Darius Acuff Jr. or pivot to a bigger guard like Kingston Flemings?
In any NBA draft, there's an inflection point. We're talking about the part of the draft where the best player available is now unclear.
This summer, the NBA draft starts at pick 5.
The first four picks are set in stone. The order may vary, but AJ Dybansta, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson will be called in the first four slots. After that, it's anyone's guess.
What should the Memphis Grizzlies do if they can't grab one of those first four names?
The Grizzlies have many options in the draft
Obviously, it depends on where they do land.
The presumptive favorite at the fifth overall spot is Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. He's arguably the most offensively polished player in this class, but his defensive shortcomings are concerning for NBA scouts.
There would be some appeal in Acuff Jr. for the Grizzlies. They're presumably moving Ja Morant this summer, and Acuff Jr. would be their new point guard. Is he the right call?
There are no easy answers here. If the Grizzlies land the fifth pick and take Acuff Jr., that's fair. That said, they're just wrapping up the small guard experience. Memphis knows the pitfalls of that archetype firsthand.
Arguably, they should take a different route.
Grizzlies could bolster backcourt defense
For some, the draft starts at 6. Acuff Jr. is a lock at the fifth spot. Others feel differently:
The Grizzlies should at least consider joining that camp.
If Acuff Jr. is as productive as he's projected to be, he'll be earning something close to a rookie max extension in a few years. The Grizzlies will again find themselves financially committed to a player who raises their floor while lowering their ceiling. It may sound contradictory, but it may be smarter to take a lesser player.
Houston's Kingston Flemings has less upside, but he should be a better complementary player. At 6'4" with long arms, Flemings should be a stout point-of-attack defender. He's also a competent floor spacer. The other options look like Louisville's 6'5" Mikel Brown Jr., a jumbo playmaker, and Keaton Wagler, a 6'5" combo guard.
The Grizzlies are a blank slate. Yes, they need a franchise player, but this draft isn't their last opportunity to find that guy. Committing to the wrong franchise player is proving to be a fatal mistake in the league's new salary cap environment. Memphis could add size to its long-term backcourt by passing on Acuff Jr. and taking one of the larger guards.
Hopefully, they land in the top four, and their decision is made for them.
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