The Memphis Grizzlies are heading into the second year of their rebuild with a roster full of new faces, but the real conversation in Memphis is about who belongs in the long-term core and who doesn’t belong in trade chatter.
That starts with the obvious name: Cam Boozer. The third overall pick from this year isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and in the ideal version of this future, he becomes the face of the franchise for years. This season is about getting him used to the speed of the NBA while also showing what he can do and which pieces on the current roster actually fit around him.
Zach Edey is another player Memphis should be fully committed to. Health is the first issue, because the Grizzlies are simply better when he’s on the floor.
Last season, he put up 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists while also adding two blocks per game. He already gives Memphis a strong defensive presence and a reliable scoring option, and if the team can push him into true dominance inside, it could have the paint locked down for years.
Cedric Coward is the third name in that untouchable group. He’s entering his second NBA season and has the physical tools to matter on both ends.
Even in limited 25 minutes per game last season, he showed real impact. If he hits his ceiling, Memphis could have another frontcourt cornerstone next to Edey.
Those three are the only players the Grizzlies should not be listening to offers for right now. The idea is simple: each one brings a high-end skill set that gives Memphis a chance to build a frontcourt with staying power if their development keeps moving in the right direction.
The bigger picture in Memphis also includes Isaiah Stewart, who is part of what looks like a young core that could define the next era. The article frames it as the start of a “Grit n Grind 2.0 era” with Stewart alongside Boozer, Edey, Coward and the rest of the group.
Beyond the untouchables, the stance is more flexible. Lopez, who has not yet played in NBA action, can be included in a trade package.
The comparison given is Kasparas Jakucionis being added to the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. Wells is viewed as a possible 3-and-D wing, the kind every good team wants, while Jackson has already logged three NBA seasons at just 21 years old and could be a strong player if he gets extended minutes, health permitting.
Even if this isn’t a playoff push, there’s still something to watch in Memphis. The wins, the piece argues, will come through development, growing pains and the work of rebuilding the culture.
In Other News...
Grizzlies Fans Get An Early Look At Memphis New Era
Memphis is giving fans a chance to get a first real look at its new era before the games start to count. The Grizzlies will hold a free open practice at FedExForum on Oct. 4, part of a busy stretch that also includes several community and fan events leading up to the season. It is a simple gesture on paper, but for a team trying to build momentum before the schedule tightens, it offers an early jolt of energy around the building.
The preseason begins the next day in Atlanta, opening a four-game slate that includes two home dates before the regular season arrives on Oct. 21 against the Utah Jazz. For Memphis, the next few weeks are about more than just getting in work, because this is the window where the roster, the new-look rotation and the fan base all start to settle into what comes next. The open practice should give supporters a closer view of that process, even if the bigger questions will wait until the games begin for real. [Read more 🡒]
Cameron Boozer Gives Grizzlies A Rookie Of The Year Path
ESPNs Summer Forecast has put Cameron Boozer in a spot that should matter to Memphis fans right away: it tabs him as the favorite to win Rookie of the Year, ahead of Darryn Peterson of the Utah Jazz and AJ Dybantsa of the Washington Wizards. The early logic is straightforward enough. Boozer is projected to walk into a meaningful role with the Grizzlies, who are leaning into their younger players as they move forward without Ja Morant.
For a team trying to reset its identity, that kind of runway can be just as important as talent. Peterson and Dybantsa may have plenty of upside, but both are expected to face more competition for minutes or fit into less prominent roles. Memphis, by contrast, appears ready to hand Boozer a real opportunity to matter from the start, which is exactly the sort of setup that can turn preseason buzz into an award chase. [Read more 🡒]