The Memphis Grizzlies are stepping into a different kind of season, one built around a fresh young group after moving on from Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. That reset has pushed Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey, Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells to the front of the stage, and the roster around them is deep enough to make Memphis one of the more interesting teams to watch.
Boozer has already looked NBA-ready in preseason, and with the new anti-tanking rules in play, there’s a case to be made that the Grizzlies can surprise some people. The over/under sits at 31.0, but the predictions here all point well beyond that number.
One projection has Memphis making the Western Conference play-in tournament and landing as the West’s 8th seed at 41-41. That view leans on the development of the young players, Edey’s health, and Boozer making an immediate impact. It also points to the fact that last year the Golden State Warriors finished 37-45 and still grabbed the West’s 10th seed, which leaves room for Memphis to make a similar jump.
The case for a stronger finish doesn’t stop there. Memphis also brought in Jerami Grant, Isaiah Stewart, Quinten Post and Ty Jerome, giving Tuomas Iisalo a lot to sort through when it comes to minutes. The depth is a challenge, but it also gives the Grizzlies more ways to survive the grind of the season.
One take on the team put the Grizzlies at 35-47, which would still be enough to make them a realistic 11th or 12th seed. That outlook noted that Boozer could break through quickly, but also stressed that rookies usually need more time before they move the needle on team success.
It also pointed to the Western Conference being loaded with potential title teams, naming the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers as clubs in the mix. Even so, that view left open the possibility that Memphis could outperform expectations if things break right.
Another prediction was more cautious, calling for a 32-50 finish and the 12-seed. That assessment focused on how much the roster has changed from the team that had been finishing near the top of the Western Conference in recent years. It also pointed to a 3-1 preseason record, but said the group is still young and will need time to develop.
The most optimistic argument centered on Edey. Memphis was 7-3 when he played last season, and the defense was described as stingy even with the situation around him.
That projection admitted the Grizzlies probably won’t recreate that over a full year, but still argued that if Edey stays healthy, some of the low-end forecasts are too harsh. With Ty Jerome available from the start, Cedric Coward positioned for a leap, Grant and Stewart as rotation help, and Boozer in the Rookie of the Year mix, that view settled on 36-46 and the 10th and final Play-In spot.
However it plays out, Memphis looks like a team with more questions than certainties, but also more paths to relevant basketball than the public may expect.
In Other News...
Grizzlies Just Made A Roster Cut That Could Cost Them A Rookie Guard
The Grizzlies are trimming down to the regular-season limit by waiving Walter Clayton Jr. and Micah Peavy, a procedural move that still carries some real roster intrigue. Clayton arrived in Memphis from the Utah Jazz in a trade, and even though both players have guaranteed contracts for this season, the decision reflects how quickly the back end of a roster can get crowded once the calendar turns toward opening night.
For Clayton, there is a little more suspense than usual around a standard cut. Sacramento recently created room on a two-way slot, and that gives another team a chance to take a look at the rookie guard before Memphis can settle in with its final group. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are making their choices with an eye on flexibility beyond this season, since neither player has guaranteed money past 2026/27. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Suddenly Have A Backcourt Decision Worth Watching
Memphis is in the middle of a roster squeeze, and the deadline pressure is starting to create movement on the edges of the lineup. With the Grizzlies needing to get down to 15 players, they are reportedly looking to move second-year guard Walter Clayton Jr. before the cutoff, a familiar kind of late-cycle decision for a team trying to balance flexibility, depth and roster compliance.
Sacramento has surfaced as a possible landing spot, with the Kings exploring guard options after Ben Simmons injury changed their backcourt equation. They have also reached out to the Milwaukee Bucks about Kevin Porter Jr., which gives this search a broader feel than a single target, but it also leaves Memphis watching a market that could decide where Clayton ends up, and whether the Kings keep digging for help at the position. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Suddenly Face A Walter Clayton Jr. Decision Fans Will Watch
Ben Simmons season-ending Achilles tear has reshaped the Kings backcourt picture, and Sacramento is now looking around the market for help as the roster cutdown deadline approaches. One name that has surfaced in the chatter is Walter Clayton Jr., the 23-year-old guard who split last season between the Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies after entering the league as a first-round pick.
For Memphis, the timing adds an extra layer of intrigue because Clayton is suddenly in the middle of a decision the front office has to weigh quickly. The Grizzlies have a short window to sort out his future, and with Sacramento reportedly interested, this is the kind of late-stage roster move that can change how the final spot or two comes together before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]