A Look Back: Tyreke Evans Grizzlies Pre-Draft Workout

By: Stephen Patterson

I will never be able to understand how Chris Wallace and Michael Heisley could have possibly blown the 2009 NBA Draft as bad as they did.

Not only did they think it would be a good idea to select Hasheem Thabeet in the lottery, who at the time had zero offensive skill (which remains unchanged to this day), they did so with the second overall pick.

Obviously, Blake Griffin was already off the board, but take a look at some of the players the Grizzlies could have landed instead of Thabeet: James Harden, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan, Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holiday, and Ty Lawson.

How could Heisley and Wallace pass on those names for Thabeet? Especially Evans.

Evans, who played his one year of college basketball at the University of Memphis, would have not only helped boost local interest in the Grizzlies, but also could have potentially put the Grizzlies over the top.

Just sit back and imagine this line-up for a moment: Evans, O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol.

Then, off the bench, Memphis still would have Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Darrell Arthur, Sam Young, etc.

Not only could that have given Memphis one of the most well-rounded starting line-ups in the Western Conference, it potentially could have made them contenders in the West.

Just watch this pre-draft workout video from when Evans worked out for Memphis prior to the draft and try to find an explanation that makes sense as to why the team took Thabeet over Evans.

I don't think I will ever be able to find a reason to justify perhaps one of the worst mistakes in the history of the Grizzlies' franchise.

Can you?





Bonus Video - Tyreke Evans buries the Grizzlies earlier this season with a 3/4 court buzzer-beater and painfully reminded everyone in Memphis that Heisley & Wallace bombed the 2009 Draft.