The Grizzlies may have a real opening here, and it comes straight from Denver’s new second-apron reality. Memphis is still sitting on its full trade exception from the Jaren Jackson Jr. deal, and with that exception not expiring until the 2027 trade deadline, this is a clean window to use it. That makes the Nuggets’ situation worth watching closely, whether the Grizzlies decide to chase an established piece like Cam Johnson or take a swing on Peyton Watson.
Watson is the name that suddenly feels more realistic, and a sign-and-trade route would put Memphis in the mix. Nuggets reporter Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports laid out why the Grizzlies make sense as a partner:
If the Nuggets sign and trade Peyton Watson, the Grizzlies make sense. He fits with Cam Boozer, Cedric Coward and is on their timeline.
They have a $29M trade exception. Memphis also has players that I think would intrigue Denver: Ty Jerome, Cam Spencer, Scottie Pippen Jr.
- Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) July 28, 2026
That’s where Memphis has to be careful. Ty Jerome, Cam Spencer and Scotty Pippen Jr. are all logical names for Denver to want, but the Grizzlies should not be eager to hand over any of them in a Watson deal.
Spencer, in particular, fits naturally with what Memphis is building right now, especially with the new-look frontcourt. Jerome and Pippen Jr. may not be long-term answers in the backcourt, but that doesn’t mean the Grizzlies should rush to move them now. Even without a proven star in place, Memphis has a group that fits around Zach Edey and Cam Boozer and can give the team solid minutes every night.
The backcourt still needs time to sort itself out, and there’s no reason to force that decision before seeing how this group functions together. Ty Jerome had the most productive offensive stretch of his NBA career in a small sample, and he looks like a strong fit for Tuomas Iisalo’s offense.
Pippen Jr., meanwhile, brings real value on both ends, and the case can be made that he’s the most underrated player on the roster. Memphis also hasn’t necessarily seen the best of his offense yet.
Denver has reportedly softened its ask to one first-round pick and a “high-level player,” which only makes a Watson deal more reachable. Memphis has the draft capital to get involved.
Using the trade exception on Cam Johnson would make sense, too. But if the Grizzlies go after Peyton Watson, they need to keep Jerome, Spencer and Pippen Jr. out of the package.
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 🡒]