The Memphis Grizzlies may not be built to scare the West in 2026-27, but they also don’t look like a team destined to sink to the bottom of the conference.
That’s the tension with this roster. Memphis is leaning into a youth movement headlined by No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward and Zach Edey, and that group is not expected to be ready to win a playoff series yet. Still, there’s enough here to make the Grizzlies more than a doormat.
The rebuild starts with Boozer, Coward and Edey, but they’re not alone. Jaylen Wells has already shown he can produce.
GG Jackson flashed last season, much like he did in 2023-24, though the bigger question is whether he can help a team win when the games matter more. Cam Spencer brings another layer as one of the NBA’s best shooters and gives Memphis more depth in an already crowded guard group.
Experience is part of the mix too. Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Isaiah Stewart and Jerami Grant are all expected to play meaningful roles. Jerome and Grant, in particular, should help supply the scoring needed to balance out the defensive, rebounding-heavy identity Memphis wants to build around Boozer and Coward.
That identity is already taking shape. Drafting Boozer and Karim Lopez, then trading for Stewart, makes the direction pretty clear. The Grizzlies want size, toughness and work on the glass, and lineups featuring Boozer, Edey and Coward could be among the league’s best rebounding groups.
That same physical edge should show up on offense, too, especially with Memphis attacking the boards. Boozer adds a different dimension to Tuomas Iisalo’s system as a point-forward who fits the style the Grizzlies are trying to establish.
Iisalo will also get a cleaner look at his offense this season. Edey is expected to be ready for opening night, and Jerome and Pippen are healthy at point guard to handle the pick-and-roll work. How quickly Boozer becomes a hub and facilitator will be one of the more interesting things to track as the year unfolds.
The West remains crowded, even with some movement at the top and middle. Kawhi Leonard (maybe) being traded to the Toronto Raptors and LeBron James returning to the Eastern Conference changed the depth a bit, but Minnesota added LaMelo Ball, Utah added Darryn Peterson, and Oklahoma City and San Antonio should remain right where they are.
Memphis is clearly not in the same class as the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Rockets or Lakers. But the Grizzlies should sit above the Kings, Clippers and Pelicans. If they finish ahead of those three teams, that gets them to at least 12th.
The more realistic target is the group above them. Memphis is closer to the Mavericks, Jazz, Suns and Trail Blazers than it is to the bottom of the conference.
If the Grizzlies can outpace two of those four teams, a No. 10 play-in spot is on the table. For the first season of a rebuild, that would count as a strong result.
In Other News...
Grizzlies May Have Finally Taken Pressure Off Cam Boozer
Cam Boozers summer gave Memphis enough to like on the offensive end, and there were also signs he can hold his own defensively as he settles into the league. Even so, the Grizzlies have spent the offseason trying to make life easier for their rookie big man by reinforcing the frontcourt around him, with the goal of giving the roster more size and more reliable support near the rim.
Thats where the additions of Zach Edey, Isaiah Stewart and Quinten Post come in, a group that should help absorb some of the heavy lifting inside and let Boozer develop without being asked to do everything at once. For Memphis, the bigger question now is whether that added depth is enough to stabilize the front line and keep Boozer focused on the parts of his game that already look ready to translate. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Could Be Holding Major Leverage Over The Nuggets
The Grizzlies may have a useful card to play if Denver comes calling. Memphis has the kind of trade exception that could let it absorb Christian Brauns contract, and that alone gives the front office a seat at the table in a deal the Nuggets may need to make if they want to keep their roster flexible enough to re-sign Peyton Watson.
Braun is tied to a long-term contract, but he still fits the profile of a buy-low swing for a team that can afford to think a little bigger. If the Nuggets get serious about moving salary, Memphis could end up in position to turn cap space into leverage, with draft assets likely the real price of doing business. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies May Be Headed For Another Backcourt Shakeup With Russell
DAngelo Russells time in Memphis appears to be heading toward a reset, with the veteran guard expected to become a free agent soon after a likely contract buyout. For the Grizzlies, it would be another quick turn in the backcourt picture, and for Russell it would open the door to a fresh landing spot just as teams around the league start sorting out their guard depth.
Several clubs are already viewed as possible fits if he reaches the market, with Philadelphia, Miami and Minnesota among the teams keeping an eye on the situation. Russells next move will come down to where his playmaking and experience line up best with a roster need, and the market should be active once his status is officially settled. [Read more 🡒]