Memphis Grizzlies Draft Terrico White With 28th Pick In SB Nation's 2010 NBA Mock Draft

The 2010 SB Nation NBA Mock Draft is still(!) underway, with each SB Nation blogger making selections for their respective teams. Straight Outta Vancouver, SB Nation's Memphis Grizzlies blog, checks in (again) to make the twenty-eighth overall selection in this year's mock.

With the twenty-eigth overall pick in the 2010 SB Nation NBA Mock Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies will select Terrico White, guard, Ole Miss Rebels.

djturtleface explains: Lots of Tigers fans won't be happy with me, but I've got to grab local high school legend Terrico White over collegiate star Elliot Williams. Theoretically they're both filling the same position -- backup point guard -- so it should be best player available. If it were that simple, I'm probably taking the lefty slasher Williams.
It's not that simple, though, because Memphis has the very particular problem of a criminally undersized backcourt. Mike Conley is barely big or tough enough to cover Earl Boykins, and O.J. Mayo gets punished by increasingly taller and taller wings at shooting guard. Adding Elliot Williams doesn't change much, but Terrico White's lanky 6'5" frame and 6'9" wingspan should get in front of guys like Stephen Jackson and Kobe Bryant while OJAM bullies smaller true points.

Offensively the Grizz would be lucky to get much of anything out of White since he won't be shooting threes for at least a few years, avoids risky plays, and hates getting into contact. Fortunately he's only got to live up to the legacy of Marcus Williams, so it would be pretty difficult not to provide an upgrade on both ends of the court. And if there's any player this late in the draft likely to adjust well to a fast-break NBA offense, it's probably Terrico and his 40 inch vertical.

At 28 and with two picks already under their belt, the Grizz can afford to dream big.

Terrico White fits the location, fits the system, and should help the existing core -- not bad for a Memphis boy.

Ridiculous Upside reacts: Believe you me, Memphis fans, I openly scolded djturtleface for not picking the Memphis product - especially since Antonio Burks worked out quite well.

Luckily, the explanation makes sense and all is right with the world.

Ridiculous Upside's Top 5 remaining prospects: 1 - Daniel Orton, C, Kentucky. 2 - Stanley Robinson, F, Connecticut. 3 - Dominique Jones, G, South Florida. 4 - Elliot Williams, G, Memphis. 5 - Darington Hobson, F, New Mexico.

Sound off, SB Nation! What say you of the White-to-Memphis pick?

And please, remember to check out Straight Outta Vancouver for everything you need to know about the Grizzlies.