Memphis Grizzlies trade four picks to land Cedric Coward at No. 11
AP Cedric Coward poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 11th by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the NBA 2025 Draft. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Memphis Grizzlies kicked off draft night with a blockbuster move, sending their No. 16 pick, a 2028 first-rounder (via Orlando), and two second-round selections to Portland for the No. 11 slot.
With it, they drafted Washington State guard Cedric Coward. Coward - a former Division III standout - impressed scouts with a silky jumper, 7-foot-2 wingspan and relentless motor before a shoulder injury cut his season to six games at 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. Though he had committed to Duke, he stayed in the draft after earning rave reviews.
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At No. 10, Houston selected Duke freshman center Khaman Maluach, whose rights will shift to Phoenix on July 6 as part of the Kevin Durant trade. Earlier, the Suns had acquired veteran center Mark Williams from Charlotte in exchange for No. 29 (UConn's Liam McNeeley) and a 2029 first-rounder (protected among Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah). Williams averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season.
New Orleans traded its No. 23 pick (Georgia's Asa Newell) and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to Atlanta for No. 13, using it on Maryland's Big Ten Freshman of the Year, center Derik Queen (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds).
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Utah then moved up to No. 18 - sending Nos. 21 and 43 plus 2031 and 2032 seconds to Washington - to draft Final Four MOP guard Walter Clayton Jr.
Sacramento dealt its 2027 first-rounder to Oklahoma City for No. 24, selecting Colorado State guard Nique Clifford. Indiana, seeking depth after Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles tear, acquired No. 38 from San Antonio for a 2030 second-rounder and cash, adding to their late pick at No. 54.
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