The Memphis Grizzlies are walking into the 2026/27 season with the kind of setup that can surprise people fast: low outside expectations, a young core to develop, and enough veteran help to stay in the fight. After moving on from Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies are no longer carrying the same spotlight - and that might actually work in their favor.
A big part of the attention in Memphis will land on Cameron Boozer, GG Jackson, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and Zach Edey. Boozer, in particular, arrives with plenty of buzz, and one source of optimism is already baked into the roster: this team doesn’t need to lean on youth alone.
Memphis also has depth pieces and established names who can keep the group afloat night after night. Ty Jerome, Jerami Grant, Isaiah Stewart, and others give the Grizzlies some real substance beyond the developmental storyline. That matters in a Western Conference where every game can swing a team’s place in the standings.
The change in the NBA’s anti-tanking rules only sharpens that dynamic. With tanking no longer offering the same draft lottery payoff, Memphis has a reason to keep pushing while still building for the future. That blend - development without fully punting on wins - gives the Grizzlies a path to outperform the cautious view of them.
There is a real, if narrow, route to a sixth-place finish. The Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Denver Nuggets are viewed as the most likely teams to claim the top five spots, which would leave Memphis with a window to climb. From there, the Grizzlies could also be in the mix with the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, and Phoenix Suns, depending on how things shake out.
One assessment was more skeptical, putting the ceiling at No. 12 and pointing to Memphis as a young team that may not yet have the experience or firepower to keep pace with the West’s stronger groups. That view still left room for Boozer to become the best player in his draft class, while suggesting the Grizzlies may need more time before they take a real step forward.
Another take was more encouraging, tying Memphis’ best-case outcome directly to Boozer’s transition and Edey’s health. Edey was described as the team’s most impactful player last year, though that came in just 11 games.
His size changes things defensively, and pairing him with Boozer was described as a strong frontcourt tandem if both stay healthy for 55-60+ games. That same outlook said Boozer is “beyond ready to contribute from Day 1,” and if Memphis gets healthy seasons from Ty Jerome, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, G.G.
Jackson, Jerami Grant and Isaiah Stewart, a finish north of 35-40 wins is in play.
A third evaluation landed somewhere in between: top six was labeled unlikely, but not impossible. The teams viewed as safest bets were Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Minnesota and Houston, while Denver and the Lakers could slip if Nikola Jokic or Luka Doncic miss significant time. That could open the door for Memphis, especially because some of the teams around them have issues of their own.
The same view circled back to Edey, noting that when he plays, Memphis has been pretty good - and that the roster around him is now stronger than it was during his stints last season. In that framing, the Grizzlies’ best realistic finish is probably six, though seven or eight would still count as meaningful progress.
In Other News...
Warriors Just Made A Tough Roster Call Fans Will Debate
The Warriors are reshuffling the back end of their roster again, moving on from guard Miles Kelly and bringing in free agent forward Tyler Burton, according to an official team statement. Kelly had flashed in a preseason game, but Golden State chose to create room for Burton, who will get a chance to compete for a roster spot as the preseason roster battle tightens.
Burton is a familiar name to Memphis followers because he previously spent time with the Grizzlies on two 10-day contracts, so there is at least a local tie to this latest move. For Golden State, the decision keeps the focus on fit and flexibility, and it leaves another end-of-roster competition in motion as teams continue trimming toward opening night. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Boozer Is Already Giving Grizzlies Fans Real Rebuild Hope
Cameron Boozer entered the league as the No. 3 pick, and the early buzz around him has already given Memphis fans something tangible to lean on in a rebuild. Sportsbooks have him lined up as a leading Rookie of the Year candidate, a sign that the expectations are not just about talent, but about opportunity, too, with Boozer projected to play a meaningful role right away for a Grizzlies team trying to reset its direction.
For Memphis, the appeal goes beyond one preseason betting board. A rookie who is expected to carry real weight can speed up the feel-good part of a rebuild, especially when the franchise is looking for its next core piece. The Grizzlies have seen this movie before, too, and while those comparisons only go so far, Boozers landing spot has already made him one of the more interesting first-year names to watch in the league. [Read more 🡒]
GG Jackson Is Flashing The Skill Memphis Needs Him To Find
GG Jackson has been giving Memphis a little more to think about during the preseason, and not just because of the easy points. In his first three games, he has scored efficiently while looking more confident from the perimeter, which matters for a Grizzlies team that can use another young wing who can space the floor and still bring size, defensive versatility and finishing touch.
The bigger question is whether the jumper keeps trending up enough to change his place in the rotation. Jackson averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in the 2025-26 season, and the rest of his package already gives Memphis reasons to play him. If the shot keeps coming around, the path to a larger role gets a lot clearer. [Read more 🡒]