The plan was put in place during the summer of 2022.

The Memphis Grizzlies had just finished off a 56-win season where they took the NBA by storm and were one of the most promising teams for the future. Shooting was identified as a major need following the season, and the Grizzlies shaped their entire offseason around it.

Kyle Anderson, a steady NBA veteran, was replaced with Santi Aldama since the second-year forward was viewed as a better shooter. The Grizzlies drafted Jake LaRavia, David Roddy, Kennedy Chandler and Vince Williams Jr. After the draft, general manager Zach Kleiman pointed out how all four of those players' shooting should open up the offense. Each rookie shot at least 38% on 3-pointers in their final collegiate seasons.

The numbers never materialized. Chandler didn't last a full season in Memphis, Roddy was traded in his second year and LaRavia has shot 33.9% on 3-pointers through his first two seasons.

So for the 2024 NBA draft, the Grizzlies took a swing at what the summer of 2022 was supposed to fix.

The Grizzlies drafted Zach Edey at No. 9 in the first round to fix its depth problems at center, then the focus switched to shooting. Memphis used its two second-round picks on Jaylen Wells (No. 39) and Cam Spencer (No. 53) to help shore up the team's 3-point shooting issues.

As a franchise, the Grizzlies haven't finished in the top-10 in 3-point shooting since the 2006-07 season. They're hoping Wells and Spencer can lead the turnaround.

Jaylen Wells exudes confidence as a shooter

Memphis is not short on forwards. Williams, Ziaire Williams, John Konchar, LaRavia, GG Jackson and Aldama are among the players who fit that title. Only Vince Williams shot above league average (36.6%) on 3-pointers.

Memphis must have better shooting around the likes of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. to maximize their current window of contention. Teams have often loaded the paint against Morant and focused on only Bane beyond the 3-point line.

Wells, who played just one season at Washington State, thrived as a complementary player and shooter. He wasn't asked to be a primary ballhandler, which is one of the reasons he lasted so late in the draft. He attempted and made more 3-pointers than 2-pointers while playing with the Cougars.

Why should fans believe his 3-point shooting will translate better than previous Grizzlies draft picks? Volume. Only Williams took as many 3-pointers as the confident Wells. Defenses knew that taking away 3-pointers against Wells was the key, but he still attempted 5.1 3-pointers per game and made 43.6% in the Pac-12.

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Cam Spencer's consistency

Spencer not only gives you the volume Williams and Wells can match, but he was deadly accurate for the majority of five collegiate seasons. He shot at least 43% on 3-pointers in four of the seasons.

Movement is also a strength of Spencer's game. He rarely stood still at UConn, and that made defenses struggle to contain him. In his 40 games, Spencer only finished two contests with no made 3-pointers. None of the 2022 draft picks displayed Spencer's consistency and longevity as a shooter.

Wells and Spencer are unlikely to turn into stars. Both have questions as defensive playmakers and the offensive areas surrounding their shooting, but the Grizzlies can overcome those issues. Morant and Bane are strong playmakers, and Jackson has graded out as one of the NBA's best isolation scorers.

And the defense? Memphis has routinely cranked out elite defensive squads under coach Taylor Jenkins.

Offense is where Memphis needs to see more improvement, and that starts with better shot-makers being on the floor. Memphis is hoping Wells and Spencer can help address those needs.

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: Memphis Grizzlies emphasized shooting upgrades in 2nd round of NBA draft