The 2026 NBA Draft produced plenty of first-round talent, but not every rookie is walking into a big role on day one. A few of the class’s top selections may spend part of their first season in the G League while they get up to speed.
Graves looks like one of those names. The No. 19 pick out of Santa Clara spent a redshirt year in 2024-25 before entering the Broncos’ rotation in 2025-26, and his production as a redshirt freshman was strong: 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 51.2% from the field and 41.3% from 3-point range.
Still, after starting just four NCAA games across two seasons at a mid-major program, the 6-foot-8 forward could benefit from extra run with the Raptors 905. Toronto figures to be one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams, which would make it harder to give Graves room to work through mistakes early.
Lopez is another first-rounder who may need a slower ramp-up. The No. 21 pick comes from the NBL and has already played against professionals, but he is still described as a raw, 19-year-old prospect who needs more court time to keep improving and reach his ceiling.
Memphis may not be a playoff team in 2026-27, but the Grizzlies have a number of solid young players on the roster, and that could limit Lopez’s minutes early. That setup makes it possible he spends part of his debut season with Memphis’ G League affiliate.
Then there’s Peat, one of the draft’s most debated “stay or go” cases. Selected No. 30 after one season at Arizona, the former five-star recruit averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 52.8% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc on 0.6 attempts per game. His shooting issues were part of what pushed him down the board, and on a playoff team from 2026, the 19-year-old may need time to sharpen that part of his game before he gets regular NBA minutes.
Khaman Maluach, a top-10 pick by Phoenix in the 2025 NBA Draft, spent notable time in the G League during his rookie season.
In Other News...
Grizzlies Just Made A Roster Cut That Could Cost Them A Rookie Guard
The Grizzlies are trimming down to the regular-season limit by waiving Walter Clayton Jr. and Micah Peavy, a procedural move that still carries some real roster intrigue. Clayton arrived in Memphis from the Utah Jazz in a trade, and even though both players have guaranteed contracts for this season, the decision reflects how quickly the back end of a roster can get crowded once the calendar turns toward opening night.
For Clayton, there is a little more suspense than usual around a standard cut. Sacramento recently created room on a two-way slot, and that gives another team a chance to take a look at the rookie guard before Memphis can settle in with its final group. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are making their choices with an eye on flexibility beyond this season, since neither player has guaranteed money past 2026/27. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Suddenly Have A Backcourt Decision Worth Watching
Memphis is in the middle of a roster squeeze, and the deadline pressure is starting to create movement on the edges of the lineup. With the Grizzlies needing to get down to 15 players, they are reportedly looking to move second-year guard Walter Clayton Jr. before the cutoff, a familiar kind of late-cycle decision for a team trying to balance flexibility, depth and roster compliance.
Sacramento has surfaced as a possible landing spot, with the Kings exploring guard options after Ben Simmons injury changed their backcourt equation. They have also reached out to the Milwaukee Bucks about Kevin Porter Jr., which gives this search a broader feel than a single target, but it also leaves Memphis watching a market that could decide where Clayton ends up, and whether the Kings keep digging for help at the position. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Suddenly Face A Walter Clayton Jr. Decision Fans Will Watch
Ben Simmons season-ending Achilles tear has reshaped the Kings backcourt picture, and Sacramento is now looking around the market for help as the roster cutdown deadline approaches. One name that has surfaced in the chatter is Walter Clayton Jr., the 23-year-old guard who split last season between the Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies after entering the league as a first-round pick.
For Memphis, the timing adds an extra layer of intrigue because Clayton is suddenly in the middle of a decision the front office has to weigh quickly. The Grizzlies have a short window to sort out his future, and with Sacramento reportedly interested, this is the kind of late-stage roster move that can change how the final spot or two comes together before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]