Memphis fans might be feeling pretty good about how their young players are kicking off the season, but don’t let that fool you: a massive opportunity for a franchise-changing pick just got snatched away right under their noses. If this were the old NBA draft lottery system, the Grizzlies would be absolutely hyped. Instead, a recent league overhaul means they’re watching a potential No. 1 pick turn into a frustrating No. 6, all thanks to the Jazz’s truly brutal 1-11 start.
The Brutal Reality of the New Lottery System
It’s a gut punch, plain and simple. Memphis holds an additional first-round pick in the 2027 draft. Under the previous lottery format, Utah’s historically bad 1-11 record right out of the gate would have made that pick a lock for a top-tier spot, likely even the No. 1 overall. That’s a huge deal. Think about the kind of talent you can snag at No. 1, right? It could completely reshape a team’s future. But now, with the system officially changed earlier this year, the Grizzlies just can’t take full advantage of Utah’s struggles. Cleveland’s also had a shaky start relative to expectations, but they aren’t even close to Utah’s 1-11. The Jazz are doing everything you’d expect a team gunning for the top pick to do.
The Rule That Screws Memphis
Here’s where it gets even worse. The Grizzlies own the most favorable first-round pick among the Jazz, Cavaliers, and Timberwolves in 2027. If this were, say, the 2025-26 season, Utah would be right in the mix for the No. 1 pick, and by extension, Memphis would be too, even with a strong start to their own season. But the new format changed everything for the worse for the Grizzlies. The league’s new rules prevent teams from landing top-five picks in three consecutive years. And guess what? The Jazz already grabbed top-five picks in both the 2025 and 2026 drafts. Even though this pick is coming to Memphis as part of the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, that restriction still applies. As Brett Siegel on X (formerly Twitter) laid out, the Jazz cannot receive a top-5 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft due to their top-5 finishes in the previous two drafts, and because Memphis owns this pick, that restriction slams into the Grizzlies.
This is why Memphis was the *only* team to vote against the new lottery system. They knew this exact scenario could happen. Now, the absolute highest they can land with that Utah pick is No. 6. And let’s be real, going from a potential No. 1 or No. 2 pick to No. 6 is a massive drop-off, especially in a 2027 draft that’s already being called weaker than the last two. This isn’t just bad luck, it’s a league rule costing them a truly impactful pick.
This is a tough pill to swallow for Memphis. They were on the cusp of a potential game-changer, but now they’re left staring at a No. 6 pick, which, while still good, feels like a consolation prize when a potential No. 1 was right there for the taking. The stakes here are huge for their long-term build, and you just know the front office is fuming over this missed opportunity.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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