The Grizzlies have plenty of new names to circle, with Cam Boozer drawing the biggest spotlight and Cedric Coward and Zach Edey also set to matter this season and beyond. But in the middle of all that, Cam Spencer is the one who could quietly become the ideal fit for what Memphis is trying to build.
Spencer just finished a breakthrough second season in Memphis, and the shot that stood out in college finally started to fully show up at the NBA level. He averaged 11.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists while knocking down 44.9% of his threes. He also hit 94% of his free throws and has carved out a reputation as one of the league’s best shooters.
That kind of profile matters for a team trying to move fast in a rebuild. Memphis has already shown a knack for finding value in the second round, and Spencer looks like another one of those hits. His game gives the Grizzlies something they can use right away while still fitting into whatever comes next.
What makes him especially interesting is how cleanly his skills line up with the roster around him. Even in a season where injuries piled up and the team eventually tanked, Spencer took a real step forward as a playmaker. That matters now because the Grizzlies need players who can make life easier for others, especially around Boozer and Edey.
Early on, the best way to build around Boozer is with shooting, playmaking, and defense. Spencer won’t solve the defensive side of that equation, but his perimeter shooting and improved passing give him a strong chance to connect with Boozer quickly. He also fits well next to Edey, though his game may mesh even more naturally with Boozer.
There’s also some flexibility in how Memphis can use him. Spencer is primarily a shooting guard, but he can slide over and handle point guard duties when needed, giving the team another ball-handler. He can score as a pick-and-roll operator or as a spot-up option, and he does a good job taking care of the ball, posting a 4.3 AST/TO ratio this past season.
Defense still has to come along. That part of his game remains the area to watch. But offensively, Spencer checks a lot of boxes for this version of the Grizzlies, and with a revamped frontcourt around him, there’s a chance he builds on what he showed last season.
Memphis has an intriguing guard group with some real questions attached to it, but Spencer could be the surprise name that helps tie everything together. Boozer, Coward, and Edey will get most of the attention. Spencer might end up being the perfect piece around them.
In Other News...
Grizzlies Finally Lock In Their First Round Pick
The Grizzlies have finally wrapped up their first-round business, signing Karim Lopez to a rookie contract and putting the last piece of their draft class in place. Memphis took Lopez 21st overall, and the 21-year-old arrives after two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers, where he developed through the NBL Next Stars program and built a rsum that made him one of the more intriguing long-term bets in the class.
Lopezs path to Memphis has already included a few stops, and the Grizzlies had to wait a bit longer than they might have liked to get him under contract. He was held out of Summer League because of a mild left hamstring strain from the pre-draft process, so the next step is getting him healthy and into the teams plans as he transitions from prospect to pro. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies May Have Finally Taken Pressure Off Cam Boozer
Cam Boozers summer gave Memphis enough reason to believe theres real offensive upside there, and he also flashed enough on the defensive end to keep the organization intrigued. Even so, the rookie season is going to ask a lot of him in the frontcourt, especially with the Grizzlies trying to build a sturdier defensive foundation around a young big who is still finding his footing.
Memphis has spent the offseason adding size and support in the paint, bringing in Zach Edey, Isaiah Stewart and Quinten Post to help absorb some of the burden. The idea is straightforward: give Boozer more cover, improve the teams rim defense and let him develop without having to carry every assignment at once, even if the exact shape of that rotation will be something to watch once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Could Be Holding Major Leverage Over The Nuggets
Memphis has quietly put itself in position to matter in one of Denvers most complicated offseason decisions. With a sizable trade exception available, the Grizzlies could take Christian Brauns contract off the Nuggets books if the sides decide the fit makes sense, giving Memphis a rare bit of leverage in a market where teams are always hunting for ways to create flexibility.
The timing matters because Denver needs room to keep Peyton Watson and get its payroll in order, which means the Nuggets may have to attach something of value to Braun just to open that path. Brauns long-term deal makes him more than a simple cap dump, but he also fits the profile of a buy-low swing for a Memphis team that can afford to be patient if the price is right. [Read more 🡒]