2015 NBA Draft

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post-draft-press-conference-photos

Post Draft Press Conference photos

The Memphis Grizzlies will introduce forward Jarell Martin, the No. 25 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, and guard Andrew Harrison, the No. 44 overall pick who was acquired in a draft night trade with the Phoenix Suns, at a 2 p.m. press conference on Monday, June 29. Tune in to watch it live here at Grizzlies.com.

Before the press conference, tune in for an exclusive interview with the two newest Grizzlies, conducted at 1:30 p.m. by Grizzlies TV sideline reporter Rob Fischer.

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Rookie Q&A and PostDraft Press Conference

The Memphis Grizzlies acquired the draft rights to Kentucky guard Andrew Harrison, who was selected with the No. 44 overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft, from the Phoenix Suns for forward Jon Leuer, General Manager Chris Wallace announced tonight.

Harrison (6-6, 210) played two seasons (2013-15) at the University of Kentucky, averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 28.6 minutes in 79 games and starting in all but one game in his tenure. His 298 assists rank 16th in the Wildcats’ record books and are the most for a two-year player in program history.

Playing alongside his twin brother Aaron Harrison, the 20-year-old averaged 9.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 25.5 minutes in 39 games (all starts) while shooting .383 from three-point range as a sophomore last season, helping Kentucky become the first team ever to post a 38-0 record before falling to Wisconsin in the 2015 NCAA Final Four. The Wildcats’ win total tied the most in NCAA history.

As a freshman, the San Antonio native recorded 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 31.7 minutes in 40 games (39 starts), ranking third in UK freshman single-season history with 159 assists. He averaged 15.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists as a senior at Travis High School where he directed the squad to a state title in 2013.

Harrison is one of six Wildcats to be drafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, joining Karl-Anthony Towns (No. 1 overall), Willie Cauley-Stein (No. 6), Trey Lyles (No. 12), Devin Booker (No. 13) and Dakari Johnson (No. 48).

Leuer (6-10, 228) holds career averages of 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.9 minutes in 186 games (18 starts) over four seasons (2011-15) with the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies. The 26-year-old registered 4.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 11.9 minutes in 131 games (six starts) during his tenure in Memphis.

The Long Lake, Minn. native was selected by Milwaukee in the second round (40th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft after a four-year career at the University of Wisconsin.

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Grizzlies acquire Draft Rights to Andrew Harrison from Suns

The Memphis Grizzlies selected LSU forward Jarell Martin with the No. 25 overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, General Manager Chris Wallace announced tonight.

Martin (6-10, 235) played two collegiate seasons (2013-15) at Louisiana State University, guiding the Tigers to two postseason appearances – the 2014 National Invitation Tournament as a freshman and the 2015 NCAA Tournament as a sophomore. Named All-American Honorable Mention by The Associated Press last season, Martin finished his collegiate career with averages of 13.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 30.7 minutes in 65 games (57 starts) for the Tigers.

A consensus First Team All-SEC selection last season, Martin posted 16.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 35.1 minutes in 33 games (32 starts) as a sophomore, ranking third in the Southeastern Conference in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage (.509) and fourth in minutes per game. The 21-year-old recorded 15 double-doubles, including five in the final seven games of the season, and led the Tigers in free throws made (140). Along with teammate Jordan Mickey, Martin became the first LSU player to record at least 300 rebounds in a season since Glen Davis in 2007.

Martin was tabbed to the SEC All-Freshman team after averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 26.2 minutes in 32 games (25 starts) in his first collegiate season. The Baton Rouge, La. native was the winner of the 2013 Mr. Basketball award given by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association to the top player in the state of Louisiana after leading Madison Prep to the school's first state title in Class B in 2013.

grizzlies-select-jarell-martin-in-2015-nba-draft

Grizzlies select Jarell Martin in 2015 NBA Draft

Find out what the Grizzlies have to say about the their 2015 Draft selection during our live postdraft press conferences.

Post Draft Press Conference with Chris Wallace

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2015 Postdraft press conferences

2015-grizzlies-draft-notes

2015 Grizzlies Draft Notes

Kevin Negron

The Memphis Grizzlies ended their 2014-15 campaign with their third consecutive 50-win season, thus earning the right to make the 25th overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25.

With constant focus being put on the top-14 picks known as “the lottery,” there is often a conception that the lower half of the draft is devoid of impact talent.

The 25th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft would beg to differ.

The Boston Celtics selected current Grizzlies guard/forward Tony Allen with the 25th pick 11 years ago. Allen went on to play an important role for the Celtics, providing energy off the bench on a team that eventually hoisted the 2008 Larry O’Brien Trophy after a tough six-game battle with Phil Jackson’s Los Angeles Lakers.

Along with “2008 NBA Champion” on Allen’s résumé, he has since been named to four NBA All-Defensive Teams, including being one of this year’s First Team selections.

The following are other notable No. 25 overall picks from past drafts:

Current Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum, selected by Houston in 2008 from Le Mans (France), had his draft rights acquired by Portland in exchange for the rights to former Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur and current Rockets forward/center Joey Dorsey. Known as a jack-of-all-trades type player, Batum has averaged 11.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists across the span of seven NBA seasons. In perhaps his best year as a professional, he averaged 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 82 starts during the 2013-14 season. Batum is also part of the “five-by-five” club, which is exclusive to only eight players since the 1985-86 season. Batum accomplished the feat by recordings 11 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, five blocks and five steals in a 2012 matchup against the New Orleans Hornets.

Current Celtics forward Gerald Wallace has enjoyed a lengthy career, suiting up for five teams since being selected by Sacramento in the 2001 NBA Draft. In 2010, Wallace was selected as the first and only player to ever don a Charlotte Bobcats uniform in an All-Star game prior to the Charlotte franchise reverting back to the “Hornets” moniker for the 2014-15 season. He was named to the 2010 NBA All-Defensive First Team, led the league in steals in 2006 and was named Alabama’s Mr. Basketball in 2000 before attending the University of Alabama for one season from 2000-01. Wallace also received the  2000 Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award.

Former forward Al Harrington was selected in the slot by Indiana in the 1998 NBA Draft. Over a 16-year career, Harrington played for seven teams averaging 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds. He was selected by the Pacers from St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey and is the cousin of former Grizzlies guard Dahntay Jones. Harrington was also a recipient of the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award in 1998.

Former Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies head coach Sidney Lowe was selected No. 25 by the Chicago Bulls in 1983. Before beginning his NBA coaching career as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1991, Lowe played for five NBA teams scattered across four seasons from 1983-90. In between, he also had stints in the Continental Basketball Association from 1986-89. Prior to his professional basketball career, Lowe was the starting point guard for the 1983 NCAA Champion North Carolina State Wolfpack men’s basketball team under legendary head coach Jim Valvano. He followed in the footsteps of Valvano and held the position of head coach for his alma mater from 2006-2011. Lowe coached the Grizzlies for part of three seasons from 2000-02, and was the team’s first head coach after relocating to Memphis in 2001. He is currently in his third stint as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Dallas Mavericks selected former guard and four-time All-Star Mark Price with the 25th pick in 1986. A lethal shooter during his 12-year career, Price joined the 50-40-90 Club (at least .500 FG, .400 3FG and .900 FT percentage) after achieving the feat during the 1988-89 season – he is one just six players in history to accomplish the impressive achievement. Price had a myriad of accolades during his tenure in the league including an All-NBA First Team selection (1993), three All-NBA Third Team selections (1988, 1992, 1994) and has had his No. 25 jersey retired by both the Cleveland Cavaliers and his alma mater Georgia Tech. He finished with career averages of 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds for four teams (Cavaliers, Bullets, Warriors, Magic). Following his playing career, Price became an assistant coach for Georgia Tech from 1999-00 and later held assistant coaching positions with several NBA teams. Most recently, Price was named head coach of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte men’s basketball team for the 2015-16 season.

The Grizzlies last selected Tony Wroten (2012) in the No. 25 slot.

Nearly half of the players on the current Memphis roster were drafted at the No. 25 overall pick or below, lending proof that there is value to be had late in the draft. However, the Grizzlies will continue to strive to be slotted in the 25th slot or below – ensuring that the season that came directly before the June draft date was a successful one.

The owners of the first overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft – the Minnesota Timberwolves – will be on the clock starting at 6:30 p.m. (CT) this Thursday.

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History of the No. 25 Overall Draft Pick

The Grizzlies held a pre-draft workout on Wednesday, June 24 in advance of the 2015 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25.

Wednesday’s workout featured Justin Anderson (F) out of the University of Virginia.

Justin Anderson (6-6, 231) averaged 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game across three years as a Cavalier. Following his junior season, he was named to the 2015 All-ACC Second Team. Anderson averaged 12.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in his final collegiate year – including boasting a .452 (47-of-104 3FG) shooting percentage from three-point range. The 21-year old is a Fredericksburg, Virginia native.

Memphis holds the 25th overall selection in Thursday’s draft which commences at 6:30 p.m. (CT) on ESPN.

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Wednesday's pre-draft workout

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