The Memphis Grizzlies are keeping a close eye on their European draft-and-stash possibilities, with a particular focus on addressing their shooting issues for the next season. Tarik Biberovic is the most notable name in this discourse.
Here’s a more in-depth look at Biberovic and the Grizzlies’ draft and stash strategy:
Tarik Biberovic, The Sharpshooting Prospect
EuroLeague champion and NBA bound? Tarik Biberovic, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound wing, just led his Turkish club Fenerbahçe to their second EuroLeague title. With this huge success under his belt, it’s widely expected that he’ll join the NBA this summer.
Grizzlies Rights: The Memphis Grizzlies selected Biberovic in the late second round (56th overall) of the 2023 NBA Draft, which means they own his NBA rights.
Elite Shooting Ability: Biberovic is widely regarded as one of the best shooters outside the NBA. Over the last two seasons, he’s hit 44% from beyond the arc on roughly 600 attempts. This season, Fenerbahçe has scored 42% on over 200 spot-up attempts and 41% on 66 off-screen attempts. This kind of shooting versatility is highly desired in the modern NBA.
Potential Luke Kennard Replacement: The Grizzlies are poised to let prospective free agent sharpshooter Luke Kennard go. Biberovic is considered as a strong, younger, and possibly cheaper substitute for Kennard’s floor-spacing role.
Fit with the Core: His stature (6-foot-7, 230 pounds) and shooting ability make him an excellent fit for the Grizzlies’ core, which includes Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and recent draft selection Zach Edey.
Defensive Potential and Versatility: In addition to shooting, Biberovic’s stature and strength have given him upside as a defender. He also performed effectively as a pick-and-roll and isolation option for Fenerbahçe, demonstrating a more versatile offensive style than just a spot-up shooter.
Summer League Stint: Biberovic previously played for the Grizzlies’ Summer League club in 2023, averaging 6.7 points on 38.6% shooting in 16 minutes per game over seven games. Notably, he shot 42.1% from three in the five Las Vegas games.
While the Grizzlies would want to keep Biberovic to solve their shooting issues, his high-level shooting might make him a valuable trade chip if Memphis wants to acquire further assets or return to the first round of the draft.
The Grizzlies’ overall draft-and-stash strategy for shooting
The Grizzlies are looking to strengthen their shooting by leveraging their existing “draft-and-stash” assets, particularly given Luke Kennard’s impending departure and the team’s need for consistent outside threats.
Filling a Gap: The team’s troubles with consistent shooting, particularly in the playoffs last season, make acquiring solid three-point shooters a primary priority.
No 2025 First-Round choice: Without a first-round choice in the 2025 NBA Draft (which they handed to the Washington Wizards), the arrival of players like Biberovic becomes even more vital for bringing in early contributions.
Other potential shooters: While Biberovic is the most visible, the Grizzlies have other young players and recent draft ees (like as Cam Spencer, a 2024 second-round selection) who might be promoted to fill shooting responsibilities. The goal is to replace Kennard’s production with numerous shooters.
In essence, the Memphis Grizzlies are actively pursuing a strategy of using their overseas draft-and-stash assets, with Tarik Biberovic leading the way, to inject much-needed sharpshooting and variety into their squad for the upcoming season. His outstanding EuroLeague performance and established shooting ability make him an intriguing prospect for the team.
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