The Memphis Grizzlies head into the 2026-27 season with a new look, a new centerpiece and a few real chances to collect some individual hardware along the way. Cameron Boozer, Tuomas Iisalo and Ty Jerome each have a different path to recognition, and each one fits into a franchise trying to figure out what this next chapter looks like.
Boozer, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, is the obvious name at the top of the list. Memphis is rebuilding around a younger core, and that should give him the kind of runway rookies dream about: touches, responsibility and room to make mistakes while still putting up numbers.
His scoring, rebounding, passing and basketball IQ make him more than just a strong Rookie of the Year candidate. In this setup, he looks like the favorite.
Iisalo’s case is harder to build, but it’s there. Memphis is coming off a 25-57 season and has completely reshaped the roster, so the expectations aren’t especially high.
That can work in a coach’s favor if the team takes a real step forward. If the Grizzlies develop quickly and hang around the playoff picture, Iisalo would be the one getting a big share of the credit, which would give him a legitimate Coach of the Year argument.
In that kind of scenario, Zach Kleiman could also be in line for executive of the year.
Then there’s Jerome, who might be the most fascinating of the three because his role could balloon in Memphis. In 15 games during the 2025-26 regular season, he put up 19.7 points, 5.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting efficiently.
He was already a sixth man of the year candidate in his last season in Cleveland, and he also had limited opportunity because of injury in Memphis. The big question now is whether he can carry that late-season form over a full year.
The Grizzlies need stability in the backcourt, and Jerome’s scoring and experience give him a real chance to become one of their main creators. If that limited sample turns into steady production, he could become a surprise name in the Most Improved Player race.
For Memphis to put all of this in motion, the season has to go better than what most national projections expect. Boozer has the clearest path of the group, and if he wins Rookie of the Year, that alone would give the fan base plenty to latch onto.
But the Grizzlies need more than one rising star. They have to decide whether Iisalo is the right coach for the rebuild, and they may find that Jerome is a veteran worth keeping in the picture, too.