The Grizzlies' search for a dynamic starting small forward has haunted the team since they traded Rudy Gay at the 2013 trade deadline. The best player they've had at that position since making that deal was Dillon Brooks, who switched between small forward and shooting guard throughout his six-year tenure with the team.
During the 2021 offseason, general manager Zach Kleiman made a bold move by trading their 17th and 51st overall picks of the draft, and Jonas Valanciunas to the New Orleans Pelicans for the 10th and 40th overall picks, Steven Adams, and Eric Bledsoe. They used the 10th overall pick to select Ziaire Williams to become their small forward of the future.