The 2026 NBA Draft picture for the Memphis Grizzlies is filled with moving parts, as their selection depends on a complicated series of protections, swaps, and conditions involving the Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Hornets. A flowchart recently shared by Fastbreak Breakfast provides a helpful visual, but the situation can be explained more clearly by examining each possible scenario.
If the Washington Wizards finish with a top-eight pick in the draft lottery, they will retain that selection due to lottery protections. From there, Washington has the right to swap first-round picks with the Phoenix Suns. If the Wizards decide to exercise the swap, they would acquire Phoenix’s pick, while Memphis would receive the best two selections among Washington, Orlando, and Memphis. Charlotte would then receive the worst of those three picks. If Washington does not execute the swap, the outcome is nearly identical—Memphis still gets the best two of the three available picks (Washington, Orlando, and Memphis), and Charlotte again receives the worst one. This is a favorable scenario for the Grizzlies because it provides a strong chance of securing a valuable mid-round selection or even a late-lottery pick, depending on how the standings and lottery results unfold.
If the Wizards fall outside the top eight, however, their pick conveys, and the swap option no longer applies. In that case, Memphis would receive the best two of the Phoenix, Orlando, and Memphis picks, while Charlotte would once again take the lowest remaining selection. This slightly lowers the Grizzlies’ potential upside, as Washington’s pick could have been among the most valuable of the group, but it still ensures that Memphis ends up with two quality first-round options.
In simpler terms, the Grizzlies are guaranteed to receive two of the top three selections among their own pick, Orlando’s, and whichever between Washington or Phoenix remains eligible. The Hornets always come away with the lowest of the three, meaning their position depends entirely on how the other teams perform. For Memphis, this setup offers both flexibility and security, ensuring multiple first-round picks that can be used to strengthen their young roster or leveraged in trade discussions to acquire veteran talent.
Ultimately, the structure of this deal provides Memphis with solid draft capital regardless of the outcome. The best-case scenario would involve the Wizards staying in the top eight and swapping with Phoenix, allowing the Grizzlies to benefit from a pair of mid- to high-tier first-round selections. Even in the less favorable outcomes, the Grizzlies are still positioned to gain meaningful assets in a draft class with substantial depth. The path may be complicated, but the potential reward for Memphis is substantial as the franchise continues its pursuit of long-term competitiveness in the Western Conference.
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