The Memphis Grizzlies have enough frontcourt heft and guard depth to build some very different-looking lineups this season, and that gives Tuomas Iisalo a few intriguing paths to explore.
Cam Boozer’s 6-9 playmaking, Zach Edey’s size and Isaiah Stewart’s versatility all widen the menu in a big way. Memphis also has a crowded backcourt group that includes Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Cam Spencer and Javon Small, which only adds to the possibilities.
One of the most eye-catching groups puts Jerome, Cedric Coward, Cameron Boozer, Stewart and Edey on the floor together. Any lineup with Stewart and Edey side by side is going to stand out, and this one might be the most functional Memphis can build if it wants to lean into size. Boozer said at media day that he expects to be more perimeter-oriented in the NBA than he was in college, so seeing him work from the wing would be especially interesting.
"My game is just having elite feel... You can really put me anywhere on the court and I can succeed and help the team win games" Cam Boozer pic.twitter.com/90ELQzlGBP
That group also has a defensive shape that makes sense on paper. Coward can take the point of attack, Stewart can roam, and Edey anchors the middle. On offense, Jerome and Boozer would handle a lot of the creation, which could make this a useful option if Memphis wants a bigger lineup without sacrificing too much ballhandling.
Another look would feature Ty Jerome, Cam Spencer, Jaylen Wells or Cedric Coward, Jerami Grant or Cameron Boozer, and Stewart at center. Memphis’ best shooting lineup probably includes Quentin Post at the five, but Stewart was the pick here because of the defensive edge he brings. Stewart has also made it clear he believes he can stretch the floor when needed.
"I've shown in the past I can be slotted in at the four and be able to knock down that three ball, space the floor," Stewart said. "If it ever came to that, I know I'd be prepared to do that."
Spencer is the key piece in a shooting-heavy group like this. Even though he spent a lot of time at point guard last season, putting him next to a true lead guard should let his strengths shine more naturally. He posted a 58.3 eFG% on 313 pull-up jumpers last season, narrowly finishing ahead of Steph Curry’s 58.2 eFG% and Shai Gilegous-Alexander’s 56.2 eFG% among high-volume pull-up shooters.
Cam Spencer shot 58.3 eFG% on 313 pull-up jumpers last season. Narrowly edging out Steph Curry (58.2 eFG%) and Shai Gilegous-Alexander (56.2 eFG%) as the most efficient high volume pull-up shooter in the NBA…Special shooting talent in Memphis pic.twitter.com/M8KO5PpTUa
The wing and forward spots in that lineup can shift. Wells has been the better three-point shooter than Coward, though not by much, and Coward could take another step as a shooter this season.
Grant and Boozer both fit at the four as well, with Grant bringing reliable three-point shooting and Boozer offering the rebounding and playmaking edge. Which one Iisalo prefers comes down to whether he wants more defensive versatility from Grant or more of Boozer’s board work and passing.
A third combination would put Scotty Pippen Jr., Coward, Wells, Stewart and Edey together. That’s the kind of lineup that could make opponents feel like LeBron James at the free throw line when Kawhi Leonard checked back in during the 2013 NBA Finals.
When LeBron saw Kawhi checking back into the game in the '13 NBA Finals: pic.twitter.com/5YiTjIz1fP
This may be Memphis’ best defensive unit. The 1-through-3 spots are packed with disruptive defenders, while Stewart and Edey make things miserable around the rim. Coward and Wells also give the group length on the perimeter.
For a team that wants to make life difficult and turn games into a grind, this is the kind of lineup that fits the Grizzlies’ identity.
In Other News...
Grizzlies Camp Battle Could Get Tough Fast For Bubble Players
With training camp still getting sorted out, the Grizzlies already have a numbers problem to solve. Memphis is carrying 21 players on its roster and must trim three names before reaching the 15-player standard-contract limit for the 2026-27 NBA season, which means the coming weeks are going to matter for anyone trying to stick around. General manager Zach Kleiman and coach Tuomas Iisalo both addressed the situation at media day, giving the sense that this is less about leisurely evaluation and more about narrowing a crowded field.
Micah Peavys ankle recovery adds another layer to the camp picture, because every available practice rep now carries more weight. And for the players fighting to stay in the mix, the pressure is obvious: Walter Clayton Jr., DAngelo Russell, Jordan Hawkins and Kris Murray are among the names competing for those limited spots, with preseason performance likely to shape who gets a longer look and who winds up on the wrong side of the cut. [Read more 🡒]