NBA Rumors: Top Western Conference Team "Trying Hard" To Reach For High Pick

For a team that finished the past season tied for the best record in franchise history, and a second-place seed in the Western Conference, the young upstarts in Memphis are keeping the pedal to the medal. Word is emerging that they're looking to grab another young stud to add to their roster.

According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, "I've heard more and more lately that Memphis (which holds Nos. 22 and 29) has been trying hard to move up in the draft."

Whether that would be by packaging those two picks, and/or adding a player to the mix, remains to be seen.

The Grizzlies improved by 18 wins this past season, to a 56-26 record, and jumped from 8th in the Conference the year before, to 2nd. They lost to the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors, in a tough six-game series, in the conference semifinals.

With rising stars Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and Dillon Brooks, the Grizzlies could be in title contention talks if they can take another leap this coming season. Adding a Top 5 pick in the draft would add a young player almost on the same timeline as their stars, and aid them in taking another step towards the Finals.