National Basketball Association

Grizzlies select Wade Baldwin with 17th pick in NBA draft

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:45 p.m. ET

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The Memphis Grizzlies have selected Wade Baldwin of Vanderbilt with the 17th pick in Thursday night's NBA draft.

Baldwin, a 6-foot-3 guard who played two years for the Commodores, provides Memphis with a young guard, but also hopes of a long-range shooter. Baldwin connected on 40.6 percent of his 3-pointers last season as a sophomore, while averaging 14.1 points and 5.2 assists.

He connected on 44 percent of his 3-pointers as a freshman and will play about 200 miles west of the court where he played his college career.

''It's awesome,'' Baldwin said after his selection, later adding: ''Memphis is a great city. I've been there before and couldn't be happier.''

The Grizzlies finished last season with a 42-40 record despite dealing with an array of injuries. Memphis captured the seventh playoff spot in the Western Conference, but with several key players injured was swept in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs.

The Grizzlies shot just 33.1 percent from 3-point range last season and averaged 99.1 points a game.

In the second round, the Grizzlies used the 57th overall pick to select 7-footer Wang Zhelin of China.

Memphis doesn't have a great history of success in the draft. Since point guard Mike Conley was selected with the fourth overall pick in 2007, only two Memphis draft night picks - Jordan Adams in 2014 and Jarell Martin last year - are still with the team.

The Grizzlies entered the draft - their first under new head coach David Fizdale - facing several unknowns: Conley enters free agency after an injury-plagued 2015-16 season; center Marc Gasol is recovering from a right foot injury. His recuperation leaves questions about the timing and level of his return.

Baldwin said he is aware of Conley's free agency, but wants to wait and see how the incumbent point guard's situation develops.

''I welcome anything that comes by,'' Baldwin said. ''I think I need to establish myself first and get with the team and understand my role and do that role to the best of my ability.''

Conley and Gasol comprise half of what is considered the team's Core Four of leaders. And the other two - forward Zach Randolph and defensive specialist Tony Allen - are on the backside of lengthy careers.

Baldwin was a second team All-Southeastern Conference pick as a sophomore, when he set a Vanderbilt record with 172 assists. That 5.2 average in assists was the sixth-best in Commodore history.

He said the wait until the 17th pick was worth it based on the result.

''I just wanted to be picked,'' he said. ''It didn't matter what team it was. I'm super, super, super ecstatic it was the Memphis Grizzlies.''

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