Horace Grant is already sold on what his nephew Jerami Grant can bring to Memphis.
Speaking with Action Network’s Kyle Odegard, the four-time NBA champion said the Grizzlies have put together a group that should be able to grow together, even in what many view as a rebuilding year.
“Yeah, (he’s excited). They picked up (No. 3 overall pick Cam) Boozer.
They’ve got Scotty Pippen Jr. there coming off injury. I think he’s going to be solid for them.
They’ve got a nice little team," Horace Grant said.
Jerami Grant landed in Memphis as part of the deal that sent Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers. In return for the former All-NBA point guard, the Grizzlies got Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
The move gives Memphis a veteran wing with a proven scoring track record. Jerami Grant spent four seasons in Portland and topped 18 points per game in three of them. He also went over 20 points per game in both 2022-23 and 2023-24.
At 32, he looks positioned for major minutes right away as Memphis leans into a younger roster. His presence also gives the locker room a seasoned voice, the kind of stabilizing veteran teams often lean on during a reset. Horace Grant pointed to that side of the move too.
“My nephew’s been around the league for many years, so he knows the growing pains are going to be there. With his veteran leadership and with Boozer, I think they’ll be respectable as a young team," Horace Grant said.
Memphis’ wing group is crowded with options, including Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Karim Lopez, Kris Murray and Jahmai Mashack. That makes Jerami Grant’s role worth watching closely, especially with so many promising players in the mix.
The starting job battle could end up being one of the more interesting parts of this setup. Jerami Grant, Wells and possibly Jackson all have cases to make, and Wells already has plenty of starting experience. Still, the fit is far from settled.
There’s also the money angle. Jerami Grant is in the fourth year of the five-year, $160 million deal he signed before the 2023-24 season with Portland. He is due about $34 million in 2026-27, and the final year is a player option worth roughly $36 million that he will most likely pick up before the 2027-28 season.
That kind of salary makes the next decision even more notable. If Memphis sees him as one of its two or three leading scorers, keeping him in a bench role may not be a path the franchise wants to take.
For a team trying to build forward, veterans still matter. They can steady the room, guide the younger players and still help on the floor. Jerami Grant brings all of that, plus enough scoring punch to matter right away.
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Scotty Pippen Jr. is the one name some chatter has tried to push into trade talk, but he looks like the kind of player Memphis should be trying to keep, not hand off to a rival. His value to the Grizzlies has been built on more than just filling a spot, and if the front office is looking for ways to get down to the required total, there are other candidates on the roster who make a lot more sense to explore first. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Fans Got A Painful Brandon Clarke Update In Latest Notes
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For Memphis supporters, the latest details land with added sadness because Clarkes NBA career was already familiar with the challenges of substance abuse and rehabilitation. It is another stark reminder of how quickly a promising basketball story can turn tragic, and how much off-court battles can linger long after a player leaves the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Cameron Boozer May Give Grizzlies Fans A Real Rookie Of The Year Debate
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The challenge is that this award race may not be a runaway. Boozer has the profile to be in the Rookie of the Year mix from the start, but Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson are also viewed as legitimate contenders, which could make the vote tighter than expected. Memphis will be watching closely because Boozers path to the trophy may depend on how smoothly he turns his tools into production once the season opens. [Read more 🡒]