Memphis Grizzlies Have High Expectations For #2 Pick Ja Morant

One of the most intriguing players–and best stories–of the 2019 NBA Draft is #2 overall pick Ja Morant out of Murray State University. Along with the top overall pick Zion Williamson, Morant was projected as the undisputed second pick early on and that’s where he went selected by the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant might not quite have the game changing talent of top pick Williamson but he’s a very good player that might be a perfect fit for the rebuilding Memphis Grizzlies.

It’s a popular cliche among sports media types that due to the technology and personnel resources used in scouting college players in the 21st Century there are no more ‘jewels in the rough’. The argument goes that players simply don’t get ‘overlooked’ by NBA talent evaluators. Ja Morant is a refutation to that and was very nearly ‘overlooked’ by every big time college basketball program. Heading into college, Morant wasn’t even on the radar of the major recruiting services and had been offered a scholarship from only one school–the University of South Carolina. That might be a natural fit for a native of Sumter, South Carolina but fate had something else in mind.

The story of how Morant ended up at Murray State sounds like a Hollywood movie script. Murray State Assistant Coach James Kane was at a camp to scout another player that was on the team’s radar. While killing time at the camp he went looking for a snack machine and came upon Morant playing a 3-on-3 game in a nearby gym. Kane was blown away by the talent on display and immediately called head coach Matt McMahon to give him the news. It wasn’t long after that when Murray State offered him a scholarship. He declared for the NBA draft following a spectacular sophomore season where he averaged 24.5 PPG and 10 APG.

So where does he project at the next level? More specifically, how will he perform relative to the NBA prop bet odds for his rookie year scoring and assists? He’ll have every opportunity to put up numbers in the NBA since Memphis has already put Morant at the top of the depth chart. The Grizzlies think so much of Morant that they traded the franchise’s all team leader in games played, points and assists Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz not long after the draft. Paired with last year’s top draft pick Jaren Jackson, Jr. the setup is perfect for Morant to not only score but to set up his teammates.

With two years of college ball under his belt Morant might be the most ‘NBA ready’ player selected in the first round. He should exceed both his points per game and assists per game numbers for his rookie year.

BET JA MORANT OVER 17.5 POINTS PER GAME IN 2019-2020 NBA REGULAR SEASON -120

BET JA MORANT OVER 7 ASSISTS PER GAME IN 2019-2020 NBA REGULAR SEASON -120

For up to the minute NBA basketball betting odds and props, follow BetOnline.ag on Twitter!