The Grizzlies’ latest roster shakeup left them with a familiar basketball question and an unfamiliar answer. Jerami Grant is in Memphis after the team sent Ja Morant to the Trail Blazers, and the veteran forward now lands on a roster that already has plenty of bodies at his natural spots.
Grant, 32, is expected to begin the season as either the oldest or second-oldest player on the team. That alone says plenty about where he fits in the Grizzlies’ timeline.
It also raises the practical issue of minutes. Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 overall pick, is likely to take the bulk of the power forward workload, while Karim Lopez and GG Jackson could also need time at the four.
One option is to slide Grant to small forward, but Sean Highkin believes he is still best deployed as a power forward at this stage of his career. That matters because Grant has developed into a reliable three-point shooter, a skill that could help Memphis stretch the floor around Boozer and Zach Edey’s rim presence.
Elsewhere in the West, Victor Wembanyama is back in action and already has a late-game win over Nikola Jokic’s Serbian Team in a FIBA exhibition on his résumé. Afterward, Wembanyama said, “It’s strange to suit up in France again, but honestly, there’s nothing easier than coming back and playing big games like this,” according to Johnny Askounis of EuroHoops.
He also said France is still building chemistry and that the exhibition should help the group move forward together. On a personal level, he saw value in the matchup too.
“You always learn when you play against Jokic,” Wembanyama said. “From those interior duels, you pick up counters, smarter footwork.”
Denver, meanwhile, turned quickly after trading Peyton Watson to the Cavaliers, agreeing to terms with DeMar DeRozan to add bench scoring and playmaking. Mark Kiszla of the Denver Gazette framed the move less as a direct answer for Watson’s departure and more as a replacement for last year’s sixth man, Tim Hardaway Jr.
Kiszla also wondered whether the 37-year-old can truly shift Denver’s championship outlook. In his view, the signing helps, but only slightly - enough to move the offseason grade from an F to a double D.
In Oklahoma City, the Thunder are chasing a different kind of upgrade after falling short of the Finals last season and losing to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman noted that the path back to the championship round starts with individual growth across the roster.
For Alex Caruso, that means continuing to show defensive versatility and taking on some of the larger matchups that Luguentz Dort once handled before being traded. For Chet Holmgren, the ask is bigger: he needs to be more assertive offensively in the playoffs after struggling to find rhythm and make an impact for a short-handed Thunder team.
In Other News...
Westbrooks Farewell Just Hit Thunder Fans Right In The Heart
Russell Westbrooks NBA run ended after an 18-year career, with the former Thunder star closing the book on a journey that stretched all the way to Sacramento. For Oklahoma City fans, it is the kind of news that lands with extra weight, because Westbrook was never just another ex-Ther player passing through the league. He was the face of an era, the relentless engine of a franchise that grew up alongside him, and his farewell instantly pulled a lot of memories back into focus.
One of the more notable reactions came from DeMar DeRozan, who shared a public goodbye after they were teammates with the Kings last season. DeRozan has since moved on to Denver on a one-year deal and is expected to handle a Sixth Man role, but his message added a personal touch to a moment already loaded with nostalgia. For Thunder fans, it is another reminder that even as the league keeps moving, Westbrooks place in the story of Oklahoma City still resonates far beyond the final box score. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Just Locked In A Title Piece At A Stunning Value
Isaiah Hartensteins run with the Thunder is set to continue after he agreed to a new three-year extension, keeping one of Oklahoma Citys most important frontcourt pieces in place through the 2028-29 season. Since arriving, Hartenstein has fit neatly into a team that has kept winning at the highest level, including a title run in 2025, and the move gives the Thunder another layer of continuity around a roster that already looks built to contend.
What makes the deal especially notable is the price point, which leaguewide has already drawn attention as a bargain for a center of Hartensteins caliber. He took a little less than his market value to stay in Oklahoma City, a sign of how much the situation matters to him and how well the fit has worked so far, even if the full implications for the Thunders long-term cap picture will continue to be watched closely. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Suddenly Have A Young Rotation Battle Fans Should Watch
The Thunder are heading into a familiar kind of reset, one that usually comes with a champions problems instead of a rebuilding teams. After offseason departures thinned out the rotation, Oklahoma City is expected to lean more heavily on rookies and other untested pieces as it sorts through the minutes left behind by Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
That is where the real interest starts to build for Thunder fans, because this is no longer just about keeping the bench afloat. Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber, Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz are all in position to get a look, and Stirtz has the kind of profile that could make him harder to ignore if the team needs more perimeter scoring. His college shooting efficiency gives him a chance to outplay expectations, which can turn a quiet competition for rotation spots into one of the more intriguing early season storylines. [Read more 🡒]