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Busy draft day, but did Grizzlies improve long-range shooting?
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis went to bed on NBA draft night relying on a brash and unpopular opponent to pull its team out of a long-enmeshed shooting slump.
The day started with 35-year-old Matt Barnes coming from Charlotte in a trade for Luke Ridnour, and Barnes' 36 percent 3-point shooting clip wasn't the only thing that attracted Memphis to him.
"He also can guard a variety of positions, both the small forward and the power forward" Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said in a post-midnight press conference. "He can swing down from the small forward to the power forward so that gives us tremendous versatility. I think he's a perfect fit for us."
Barnes had 13 technicals last season and has had plenty of fiery moments against Memphis. His deep threat is the key though, as the day ended with 3-point depraved Memphis taking 6-foot-9, 235-pound LSU sophomore forward Jarell Martin at No. 25 and the more highly-regarded Kentucky Harrison twin in the second round -- Andrew -- after a trade with Phoenix.
Martin, a 51-percent shooter, averaged 17 points per game last season, 9.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He was fourth in the SEC in minutes played, carrying the Tigers during a late NCAA tournament push.
"We think he brings some rare skills for a power forward," Wallace said. "He can handle the ball very skillfully. If you watched the games late in the season in particular against big-time teams like Kentucky and Arkansas, he can get in the lane and make plays through traffic, just has a scoring instinct."
He is a double-double rebounder and athletic big guy, highlighted last season by a windmill and a between-the-legs dunk. He can finish around the rim and while his 31-percent shooting from deep isn't wowing, he's shown it can be. In the final 10 games of his freshman season, he hit 13-of-27.
"We prefer he doesn't do between-the-legs dunks in NBA games in the open court," Wallace said, "but it was nice that he could pull that off."
Martin worked out for the Grizzlies amd Wallace touted his potential, saying he has only played organized basketball for five or six years.
The Grizzlies worked out both of Kentucky's Harrisons. A 6-foot-6 point guard, Andrew came for little-used Jon Leuer with the 44th pick.
Harrison did shoot 38.3 percent from deep, leaving that open door of possibility. He did finish his sophomore season with a true shooting percentage of 54 percent and averaged 15 points and 5.7 assists per 40 minutes.
"Andrew Harrison is someone that we had our eyes on and we had ranked significantly ahead of the 44th pick," Wallace said. "He's a player with tremendous size in the backcourt. He can swing over from point guard to off-guard, is a good defender, gets in the lane."
Martin is expected to workout, but not play, in summer league as he recovers from a foot injury. Harrison's coach, John Calipari, kept Memphis media waiting from New York. At the draft, he called Wallace as media waited an hour.
"He's obviously a big fan of his player," Wallace said. "The biggest indication of what a coach thinks of a player, does he put the ball in his hands and give him responsibility? Does he play him in tight games? Andrew was on the floor."
When Cleveland stole its opportunity to take falling Duke point guard Tyus Jones at No. 25, Memphis passed on Georgia State shooter R.J. Hunter when it took Martin.
"We were very aggressive. We tried to get up deep in the draft, but obviously these picks are highly coveted by other teams," Wallace said. "But we felt that even if we couldn't move up, there would be enough talent to wash over to the 25th pick and that was the case. We felt we were covered either way."
The Grizzlies finished 22nd in the NBA in 3-point shooting (.339) and shot 31 percent in the playoffs -- only four teams shot worse.
Barnes was the pre-free agency pickup, help on the wing Wallace said was atop their list of realistic free agents. His 36 percent from deep last season was 68th in the league. Current Grizzlies Courtney Lee (.402) and Mike Conley (.386) were 20th and 37th, but shot only 125 more 3s between them.
"We think it was a great night for us," Wallace said. "We picked up three guys today that can help this team, both in the short term and down the road."
