11:17 pm: The trade is official, according to a press release from the Grizzlies (Twitter link).
8:27 pm: Washington State forward Cedric Coward is the No. 11 overall pick, but he won’t remain with the Trail Blazers. According to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), Portland is sending the selection to the Grizzlies.
In exchange for No. 11, the Blazers are acquiring the 16th overall pick, a future first-rounder, and two second-round selections, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link). Portland surprisingly used the No. 16 pick on Chinese big man Hansen Yang — many analysts had second-round grades on the 7’2″ center.
The future first-rounder being sent to Portland is Orlando’s 2028 selection, per Charania (Twitter link). According to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian (Twitter link), the second-rounders will be Atlanta’s 2027 pick and Sacramento’s 2028 pick.
Coward played just six games at Washington State in 2024/25 before suffering a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the remainder of his senior season. He averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 55.7% from the floor and 40.0% on three-pointers during his abridged stint with the Cougars.
Before transferring to Washington State, the 6’6″ wing played two years at Eastern Washington, averaging 11.3 PPG and 6.1 RPG in 66 games. He spent his freshman season at Willamette University in Oregon.
Due to his lack of reps against high-level college competition, Coward was ranked outside of the first round by a number of draft experts earlier this year, but improved his standing during the pre-draft process, impressing NBA teams at last month’s combine and at workouts.
Coward has the makings of a strong pick for the Grizzlies, who are seemingly re-tooling around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. after sending away Desmond Bane to Orlando in a blockbuster trade earlier this month. Coward has a tremendous frame and a good-looking three-point shot that connects at a high rate.
The Grizzlies had the ammunition to go up and get a player they coveted after that Bane deal, which included Orlando’s 2028 first-rounder.
This move makes sense for both sides on paper. The Grizzlies get a player who can contribute early on his career, assuming he’ll be fully recovered from the shoulder injury at the start of the season. In return, Portland collects a future first and additional assets to move down five slots.
The Trail Blazers have an impressive defense, and their better-than-expected 36-46 record (including a 23-18 second half) last season reflects the growth of their young core led by the likes of Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara, Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan. With no glaring holes to address with a lottery pick, moving down a few spots to pick up a future first-rounder looks like a sound transaction.
Coward to replace Bane, nice
He can shot, he’s got good size, athletic, really good move by the Grizzlies
Coward seems exactly like a Grizzlies type player fr. Him & JWells gotta be the only Wazzu wing duo the league ever seen.
They must’ve really wanted him. He prob could’ve been a top 5 with another year of school.
Sorta rare to see a 22yo go top5. Plus he woulda been playing at Duke where the pg (Cayden Boozer) is always gonna be looking for his brother (Cam) 1st & foremost. Plus that Duke team is just deep with talent it’s not a given Coward’s stock would have risen.
Now bulls turn… Are you ready unclemike? I bet they would draft another guard. Maybe jase, but i hope im wrong.where is my weeds?
Im happy i was wrong
Grizzlies grade A
I had Coward going to OKC. He’d fit there perfectly
Memphis Grizzlies made a great trade and great pick and I think he will eventually be the Desmond Bane replacement.
Memphis taking steps backwards
Do you ever have a right opinion?
I actually agree. I didn’t see the need to trade up for Coward, especially not after seeing what it took to move up 5 spots. If they were doing it for a high upside guy like Bryant or Sorber then maybe. Honestly think they could’ve landed Coward at 16 and not had to trade anything. I don’t dislike Coward either. However, playing at a lower level for the start of his college career, not being a great playmaker, and coming off an injury I think they could’ve stayed pat. I think Clifford was a better 1 for 1 Bane replacement than Coward, but can see both doing well.
If the draft played out the same way and POR took him or Sorber and OKC took the other, I think Clifford would’ve been a solid pick at 16 and filled a similar role. Heck they could’ve even looked to trade back some with like BKN. Say 16 & a future 2nd for 19 & 27 (UTAH moved up 3 spots for three 2nds and that was a couple picks later in the draft). Still could’ve landed Clifford at 19 (Riley, Powell, or Newell would’ve been other options). Then with 27 could’ve looked for a shooter, a guy like Hugo, or a big (Wolf or Raynaud would’ve been my preference).
He was definitely going to be drafted before 16, yahoo sports and everyone literally stated it was an A++ pick and you’re crying about it. Our fanbase is full of sourpusses
By who? POR seemed set on Yang. Only other teams that maybe take him is SAS or OKC. In which case MEM then gets Carter or Sorber who are just as talented and fill holes as well.
LOL Yahoo Sports says A++. Who cares? They also said MIA pick of Kasparas was a D+. For a guy that was projected 8-12 for a majority of the pre draft process. I could careless what they grade.
I can see Coward doing well, but imo he was not worth that haul to trade up to get for the reasons I already explained.
The haul? You mean a bottom 1st next year and two 2nds? Congrats more development players that increase the timeline.
Secondly, the one thing Kleinman has been able to do is find diamonds in the rough, so Godforbid he takes that player he has faith in. The only people throwing fits are within the fanbase, meanwhile every analyst is calling it a steal….
To move up 5 spots, not in the top 5 or even top 10, it is a decent chunk to give. Kleiman has been good in the top 10 and 2nd (#30 is basically 2nd). In between he has not. This just reminds me of the Ziaire Williams pick, where they could’ve gotten Trey Murphy. Others in that range are LaRavia, who was a late bloomer this year and Roddy that they gave up on when they could’ve gotten Braun or Kessler (I was hoping Eason would fall to them).
Besides Yahoo, who is calling it a steal? Every other draft grade I’ve heard or seen is like a B or C on Coward. So how is that a steal, when almost EVERYONE has an A grade on Carter Bryant who MEM could’ve picked instead?
The best review I have seen that mimics close to what I have explained is ESPN (even though they did not mention the two 2nd rounders): “Memphis sent one of the unprotected Orlando first-round pick acquired in the Desmond Bane trade to move up five picks, which is questionable value, at best. Don’t take this as an indictment of Coward, who ranked 13th in the stats-only version of my projections. But I would have waited at least until either Coward or Carter Bryant (No. 14) was off the board before moving up.” I am hoping I am wrong, but I just didn’t like it much.
It’s a gamble but I’ll take a gm who is willing to bet high rather than stay complacent and hope for the best. Losers wait for the ball to get to them, Winners demand the ball.
What? Winners in the FO know when to maximize their assets, not “gamble them away”. They traded Bane, albeit for a good enough return imo, but that means they’re almost assuredly taking a step back. Without another move to bring in proven talent, they are in fact being complacent.
If gambling is your mentality, then by that logic he should’ve traded into the top 5 and gotten someone with star potential.
Last I check the offseason started less than a week ago, if the franchise is depending on the draft to win than we already lost. We made one major move and a draft acquisition, there’s still two months of free agency left. Relax and watch and see before you go on rants about what the franchise should do
LOL coming from someone ranting about me ranting, ha
Lol just proved my point
What was your point exactly? That fans should just be quite and let the FO do what they want without being criticized?
If they don’t want criticism then win a title. This organization has never even been to a NBA finals, and their only time in the WCF they got swept. Seems like they need more criticism to do their job better than having a blind faith fanbase that doesn’t care about being relevant.
*be quiet* would be the correct spelling. Secondly, the fans are complaining about a rookie that hasn’t even seen the floor. Third of all, the fans are acting as if free agency isn’t today. Most importantly, the fans are obsessed with giving up a low first round pick and a couple 2nds, instead of focusing on the clear fact that if we want to win we need to move away from developmental players and focus on establishing a championship roster. Im confused on why we’re so stuck on the draft, when it should be the least of anyone’s worries.
Bravo, good catch on the typo. So you don’t do any research and prefer any rookies or other players for that matter over someone else? FA is for teams that have cap space. MEM in all likelihood is just going to resign JJJ and try to bring back Aldama this offseason. That is essentially all the money they have available. Their owner could decide to go past the 1st apron, but I don’t see that happening after trading one of their top players. If they don’t bring back Aldama, then they may have some room for others. However, unless they decide quickly on that front, they will be relegated to back of the rotation additions. Apart from that, they do have some trade options, but that isn’t FA as you mentioned. Lastly, people are “stuck” on the draft, because that is one of the MAIN ways to fill out a championship caliber roster with the new CBA. You NEED good, cheap players, especially for a small market team like MEM that doesn’t attract top FAs.
So let me get this straight, you want me to believe that we should wait on rookies to get better to win a chip? Then you want me to believe that JA and Jaren are gonna wait 2-4yrs for development? Then you want me to think of that as winning philosophy? News flash buddy no team in the NBA can win without key FAs. If we can’t upgrade the roster or attract FAs to this team and only have the draft to rely upon, then you might as well get ready to be let down for the next several decades.
What FAs do you think MEM realistically has a shot at with the cap space they currently have? What “key” FAs have other small market teams brought in? MEM isn’t one good FA away from being a legit contender after trading Bane. IH to OKC as a final piece for a team that had a roster full of young talent they DRAFTED, along with two guys they TRADED for is a great example. Russ to DEN for vet min is another. They made a decent run at OKC, but their depth wasn’t enough. They’re another team that DRAFTED and TRADED their way to a title. Indy mainly traded their way into consecutive great seasons, with some draft hits, and a low cost FA add McConnell (but that was like 5 years ago). Small market teams have gotten better through the draft and timely trades. Good FAs are a luxury not a necessity for small market teams. When they get close enough to contention they can gamble that one good FA addition takes them over the top. Otherwise they have to rely on draft and trades.
The thunder team that had multiple lotteries and got some key FAs on top of that? When did I say that we were one away? I’m saying at some point this team that’s still very young is going to have to be realistic and go for some key FAs at some point. If Memphis can’t get no one because it’s a small market, then Nashville is the move. I’m twiddling my fingers betting on the draft and hoping we can repeat what OKC did, a team that collected a huge slew of picks. Again why are we stressed about a pick that hasn’t even seen the floor?
Again apart from IH what key FAs did OKC get?
SGA was a trade. The origins started with someone they DRAFTED. They draft Sabonis, flipped him and VO for PG13. Then flipped PG13 for SGA. Funny how two Sabonis trades made both the Finals teams what they are now.
Caruso was a trade. The origins started with someone they DRAFTED. They draft Giddey, and flipped him for Caruso.
Yes MEM will possibly have to get a good FA when they’re one player away. However, in order to get to that point they have to TRADE and DRAFT well.
No no no, your stance was about the draft, don’t try to add in trades because I never was against doing that. Secondly, at what point do memphis fans ignore the draft and look at the market? You’re telling me that we weren’t a player away last year? We had des, ja, and jjj, I mean are we gonna act as if getting one key FA wouldn’t have put us over the top? If anything it could be argued that we took a step backwards this year. Not too mention how several teams have an opportunity to compete for championship, why not us?
My stance? I said I disliked them trading up for a guy they could’ve gotten at 16, over guys I liked better and believe will have higher floors and ceilings like Sorber or Bryant. Small market teams do have to have more emphasis on the draft, and need to draft well to get good. That’s what every small market team that has done anything worth note the last few seasons has done. Why would anyone just ignore the draft? That is the dumbest thing you could possibly do, unless you’ve traded away all your assets anyways. You’re telling me your GRAND PLAN was to go all in last year? A year after Ja played a TOTAL of 9 games? Missed the start due to suspension and then was out with a shoulder injury for even more games. That is when you thought was the best time to go all in? Best time for them was after 21-22 season or at the 22-23 TD. Afterwards, the MEM big 3 start to get more expensive. The Ja off court stuff didn’t help either. Unless they swing a big trade this offseason they’re better off trying to rebuild and come back in like 3 years when OKC, HOU, and others are coming back down. They weren’t contending this year. Everyone could tell that after how terrible they played after the AS break. Then they add fuel to the flames and fire the coach with a handful of games before the playoffs, smh. They would’ve been better off losing the play-in game and getting a good pick that they didn’t have to trade up for.
Lol again if Im JA or JJJ why would I wait another 3 years? What stops them from leaving for a contender? Why are they all of a sudden all in on the future? You’re jumping up and down preaching draft draft draft, as if JA and Jaren weren’t drafted SIX-SEVEN years ago. Why would I just throw my hands and say oh well to FA, because we didn’t go lights out in the draft? Why would I give my GM a pass for not killing it in FA because we’re a small market? Might as well call us the 76ers since we’re suspected to twiddle our fingers while other small markets get better, smh people want a championship with no clue about having a winning mentality LOL
Because neither of them have given anyone the reason to think they won’t wait longer. MAYBE they want to be the guys that bring a title to MEM and are willing to wait as long as MEM is willing to keep them like Conley, Gasol, and Zbo tried to do before them. Just because they didn’t do what I was hoping for in the draft doesn’t mean that I conceded on FA. THEY SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO GET A MAJOR ADDITION IN FA. They had enough to extend JJJ, bring back Santi, and make small additions around the edges. I say that because they have not been luxury tax payers for nearly 20 YEARS. So I have no reason to believe they will all of a sudden be willing to do so, AFTER trading away Bane. If there was a FA out there that I thought could make them contenders, I’d definitely want them to try and get them. However, history has taught me that very few (if any) big name FAs have said they want to come to MEM. And even if they did, history has also taught me that MEM has not been willing to be luxury tax payers to do it anyways.
Well that’s my point on why the draft is becoming an afterthought, at some point I don’t want excuses I want results. If cleveland, san antonio, and other small markets can grab pivotal FAs, why can’t we? In a time where no one is guaranteed to be repeat champions, you have to execute on all fronts.
You can want results, and all fans should. However, when a team has historically not done those things that just seems like an exercise in futility.
You keep mentioning teams bringing in FA, but nearly their whole team is drafted guys or trade acquisitions. If they happen to have a FA they brought in, they are role/bench players.
CLE – draft: Garland & Mobley; trade: Spida (Lauri before him was also a trade & Sexton was draft), JA, Hunter (LeVert before him was also a trade), Ball and Strus (was a S&T, closest thing to a FA add)
SAS – draft: Wemby, Harper, Vassell, Castle, KJ, Sochan; trade: Fox, Barnes. Only FA adds are an old CP3 and like Kornet, which I wouldn’t label as pivotal FAs since both are bench players imo.
Well you can’t have it both ways, either you want the team to win a championship or not. Lol you’re tryna sound like a realist when in reality you have a losing mentality. No team has ever won in the modern era only acing one part of the off season. And like I said don’t try to pander your stance, you were all in on the draft no trades and no FA
Like I said you can want something all you’d like, but if management and the GM have never done it then it seems pointless. It has nothing to do with my mentality, it is facts. MEM has not done this in like 20 years. I’d like them to go after all sorts of players, but you might as well play 2k if you want to see it happen with the way MEM has done business in the past. Again, there are very few cases in which a small market team brings in a true FA that is a starter. My stance has been that small market teams have to have MORE emphasis on the draft, and need to DRAFT WELL to get good. This aces two parts of the offseason. Because they can then turn their good draft selections into other players or areas of need through trades if needed. If you suck at the draft you can’t turn those players into anything worth a flip. If you’re good you can turn them into a package for a superstar or really good last piece. It all STARTS with the draft though. Only other option is mortgaging your future by sending multiple future 1sts in hopes that that puts you over the top. Not a bad option for a good team full of young cheaper talent (like where ORL is now), but that is not where MEM is at now. After 21-22 season or at the 22-23 TD that was a point where it made sense for MEM, but not as much now.
Look at the sixers and see how waiting for the draft turned out. Just because the team hasn’t done something doesn’t mean they can’t
Do we know which seconds they are, yet?
It’s in the story: “According to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian (Twitter link), the second-rounders will be Atlanta’s 2027 pick and Sacramento’s 2028 pick.”
duh, thanks as always Luke!