Grizzlies won 3rd pick in NBA Draft lottery only after another team got it taken away

The NBA Draft lottery process is always a bit fascinating, and there isn't a lot of people who get to actually be in the room when it happens. 

On Sunday, the action in the room apparently involved some fascinating Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies quirks.

NBA insider Jake Fischer got the chance to sit in the room, and when he got out, he reported this:

"Emerging from the sequestered lottery room to report Utah actually won the No. 3 pick after popping up second as well. So, the league had to toss out that outcome and draw again… which led to the Grizzlies claiming the third pick."

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This isn't the first time something like this has happened, you wouldn't think. It's just the nature of the ping pong balls that determine the lottery.

It is fascinating to think about, though.

Technically, in this scenario, the Grizzlies weren't the first team to earn the No. 3 pick, but because the Jazz got the third spot after already getting No. 2, it opened the door for Memphis to take it on the second try.

It's a big break for Memphis, which will have the chance to get one out of the quartet of A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson.

The Grizzlies are trying to figure out their future direction, especially with how it pertains to Ja Morant.

Memphis has actually only picked in the exact No. 3 spot once -- that was in 1996 when they took Shareef Abdur-Rahim out of Cal.

They'll have a chance to add to that draft history with this pick.

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