Most of the NBA draft talk heading into next week is centered around potential lottery picks. If there’s any NBA team that knows better, it’s the Memphis Grizzlies.

Memphis traded its first-round pick last season in a deal that landed Marcus Smart. The year before, the Grizzlies drafted David Roddy and Jake LaRavia in the first round.

Roddy has already been traded and the jury is still out on LaRavia. So, yeah, not exactly home runs.

However, in that same two-year span, the Grizzlies drafted Vince Williams Jr. in 2022 and GG Jackson in 2023 in the second round. Both were so good this season that the Grizzlies gave them new contracts after starting out on two-way deals. 

Finding value in the second round isn’t easy. Williams was an older prospect who Memphis identified as a potential three-and-d caliber player, and he’s living up to that billing. Jackson, the youngest player in the 2023 draft, was a high upside risky pick that was always viewed as one of the most talented players in his class.

There are multiple ways to address needs in the second round, and the Grizzlies own picks at No. 39 and 57. This is the first year of the two-day draft, so Memphis also will be choosing in the second round.

Here are five players to monitor in the second round.

Kevin McCullar, G/F Kansas

Height/weight: 6-foot-7, 205 pounds

McCullar was getting potential lottery pick buzz as recently as late January and February while being one of the top players in the Big 12. Injury ended his season early and remains one of his biggest questions. He’s a wing capable of guarding multiple positions. Offensively, his shooting is of concern, but his ability as a secondary playmaker would appeal to Memphis.

Baylor Sheierman, G/F Creighton

Height/weight: 6-6, 202

Potential first-round picks Jared McCain, Reed Sheppard and Dalton Knecht are getting a lot of buzz as shooters, but there may not be a better 3-point marksman in the draft than Baylor Sheierman. He has made more than 55 3-pointers in each of his four seasons. That performance was highlighted by making 110 3-pointers in 2023-24 at a 38% clip. He’s also one of the better rebounding wings in the draft. Shiererman would be great value with the 39th pick.

N’Faly Dante, C Oregon

Height/weight: 6-11, 260

It took a while for things to click for N’Faly Dante at Oregon. He recorded at least 30 blocks and 30 steals in each of his last two seasons. Dante is an older big who may be physically capable of playing backup minutes as a rookie. Offensively, he's very limited. Most of his shots came at the rim, leading to 69.5% shooting.

FIRST ROUND MOCK: NBA mock draft 2.0: Memphis Grizzlies add another two-way wing to strengthen defense

Jaylen Wells, F, Washington State

Height/weight: 6-8, 205

Another wing, Wells shot 41.7% on 3-pointers at Washington State after playing two years at Division-II Sonoma State. He fits the bill as a talented shooter with ideal NBA measurables, and he is also efficient in the midrange. He didn't stand out much as an offensive or defensive playmaker, but his shooting and ideal measurables would be strong starting points for a second-round pick.

Ulrich Chomche, C NBA Academy Africa

Height/weight: 6-11, 225

Here’s the risky big swing in the 2024 draft. Chomche didn’t pick up a basketball until he was a teenager, but he’s quickly become a tantalizing prospecting standing at 6-11 with a 7-4 wingspan. Chomche is an NBA Academy Africa alum who will take a sizable jump in competition, but his physical gifts are hard to ignore. He projects as a good rim protector who is already showing signs as a potential solid shooting big. His feel for the game will need to develop as he games more experience.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Five potential second-round draft pick options for Memphis Grizzlies