Memphis Grizzlies 2026 NBA Draft Preview, Predictions
The Memphis Grizzlies are entering an exciting draft night. What can be in store for Memphis, as they look to add either Cam Boozer or Darryn Peterson?
It’s a very exciting time. The Memphis Grizzlies will be picking 3rd in the 2026 NBA Draft, where they’ll have their chance to start their new era with a fresh face of the franchise.
Four players have been mainstays at the top: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson. Peterson and Boozer feel the most likely to be Grizzlies Tuesday evening.
They also have the 16th and 32nd picks with a boatload of assets to move around the board and bolster its roster.
It’s going to be a thrill to watch unfold. How can we see things transpire? What are the things to watch for?
What do the Grizzlies need?
It’s a rather blank slate as the Memphis Grizzlies are starting a rebuild. Zach Edey and Cedric Coward are fixture pieces for the team. They have a slew of complementary role players from both veterans and role players, although you can never assume anyone is truly untouchable.
With the stage of the rebuild the Grizzlies are in, they can truly go in any direction. Two positions stand out though, and could be targets for the Grizzlies around the draft.
They need more frontcourt depth. If Boozer is the pick, they will have a starting power forward. They need a high-level backup big man as well, especially with Zach Edey’s health. I’d rather target a veteran center to back up Edey, but there’s a component of upside that exists with a youthful big.
Point guard will be a conversation as they are likely to trade Ja Morant. They don’t need a point guard, per se. Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Walter Clayton Jr., Cam Spencer, and Javon Small can hold the fort down if they don’t feel like the best player on the board around 16 is a point guard. The Grizzlies’ next move for a point guard — by move, I mean one that involves real assets whether it’s via the 16th pick, future significant draft capital, buying trades, or big free agency plays — should be for one that could be the starter of the future.
Grizzlies workout tracker
The Grizzlies have worked out the following prospects, per the Hoops Hype’s pre-draft workout tracker. Note, some of these players returned to school.
Mock Draft Roundup
ESPN: 3 — Cameron Boozer; 16 — Christian Anderson; 32 — Zuby Ejiofor
The Athletic: 3 — Cameron Boozer; 16 — Bennett Stirtz; 32 — Josh Jefferson
No Ceilings: 3 — Cameron Boozer; 16 — Hannes Steinbach; 32 — Josh Jefferson
Yahoo Sports: 3 — Darryn Peterson; 16 — Chris Cenac; 32 — Jack Kayil
Tankathon: 3 — Cameron Boozer; 16 — Labaron Philon; 32 — Ryan Conwell
CBS Sports: 3 — Cameron Boozer; 16 — Labaron Philon
The Ringer: 3 — Darryn Peterson; 16 — Ebuka Okorie
SB Nation: 3 — Cameron Boozer; 16 — Bennett Stirtz
All eyes on 1 and 2
The Memphis Grizzlies may have the easiest, but also most agonizing, pick as they simply take whoever’s left between Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson. Who’s going to be left?
It’s incredibly challenging to see Dybantsa fall past 2 — as he’s the heavy favorite for 1, and the Utah connections could be too strong.
Really for Memphis, it’ll come down to who’s left between Boozer and Peterson. The Kansas guard has been getting some buzz about being the #1 pick, and it’s not hard to see why. If it weren’t for a weird year at Kansas, he’s likely the consensus #1 pick. However, concerns from Kansas could lead to him falling to 3.
I’ve held the belief that Boozer is the best player in the class, and I will not allow myself to be surprised if he’s off the board before 3. The Jazz have been rumored to him, but the fit is more clunky with Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and (maybe) Walker Kessler there.
I can go on about the potential fits with the Grizzlies, but I can save that for when the pick is in.
Do they trade up from 16 or 32?
The Grizzlies have frequently traded up in Kleiman’s tenure. It shouldn’t be shocking to see them do so again — as long as teams up top are willing.
They have a ton of vehicles to move up. They boast 11 other first-round picks available to trade, including three in next year’s draft. They have a traded player exception of nearly $29M, which can be used to take on unwanted contracts. They also have role players on good contracts that can be an incentive for teams to move down.
Can the Grizzlies move up from 16? TBD. The teams I’d watch for are Atlanta (8), Dallas (9), Golden State (11).
Maybe a trade that can be in conjunction with a move up the board, the 32nd pick should be in play as well. Could the Grizzlies use the TPE to take on a salary from a team in the 20’s facing the luxury tax aprons? If so, they can use 16 and a pick in the 20’s to move up close to the top-10.
If the Grizzlies move up, I’d expect it to be for Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries, or Morez Johnson.
Guys at 16 to watch
If the Grizzlies stay at 16, they could still find a solid rotation player. I can break it up in tiers.
“Sprint to the podium”: Morez Johnson, Dailyn Swain, Hannes Steinbach
I’ll make the pitches quick. More on these players can be found in my draft guide.
Johnson: arguably best, most versatile defender in the class, absolute dawg, seamless play-finisher
Swain: 6’8” paint touch without a screen, blur in transition, creates cycle
Steinbach: high-feel big that inhales rebounds and can shoot
“Good at 16”: Bennett Stirtz, Cam Carr, Labaron Philon, Christian Anderson, Ebuka Okorie
Stirtz: ultra efficient offensive player that thrives in interactions
Carr: wing with a pterodactyl-wingspan that soars to the basket, shoots 3’s, and blocks shots as a help defender
Philon: three-level scorer with smooth movement patterns, arguably the best non-Acuff guard in the SEC
Anderson: multi-faceted pick-and-roll creator that can slice defenses as a shooter and passer
Okorie: anomaly paint-touch as an 18 year old freshman with positional length and with shooting equity
“Fine at 16, better in a trade-down”: Karim Lopez, Tarris Reed, Sergio De Larrea
Lopez: bowling ball forward that creates defensive events but not a reliable shooter
Reed: does everything you want from a complementary NBA big man, may top out as a third big but he has a clear foundation to become a starter one day
De Larrea: smooth secondary playmaker that needs to show more equity as a defender and as a driver
“If Peterson is the pick at 3”: Koa Peat, Allen Graves
These two players just feel a bit unnecessary if Boozer is the pick, but I love how they could complement Peterson if he’s the guy at 3.
Peat: high-feel forward that wins everywhere he goes but his shooting may be a fatal flaw
Graves: just had an outlier analytical season — combo big that can shoot, create defensive events, pass, and rebound. Can he hold up athletically?
“Cautious optimism”: Jayden Quaintance
Quaintance has top-5 talent in this draft, but trying to bank on him and Edey’s health at the same time feels terrifying. Maybe if he slides to 32 range?
How active does Zach Kleiman get?
On top of trading up, Zach Kleiman has an outstanding item for the offseason checklist: resolve the Ja Morant situation.
The Giannis trade landscape has everything on hold, it seems. Can the Grizzlies move Morant before the draft?
We’ll see. I wrote more about it a few weeks ago. Teams to watch: Miami (if not Giannis), Toronto, Sacramento, New Orleans, Brooklyn.
The Grizzlies could see a roster shuffle if they feel like the move adds assets that can build up their future. Even aside from Morant, they could face a sizable roster crunch from the guard spot to balance out the roster.
They have roughly a dozen first-round picks (including 3 and 16) and a large traded player exception with a clean cap sheet going forward. The Grizzlies could get busy.
Predictions
The Grizzlies are destined to be active. How will they shape their roster after these next two nights of the draft?
The Grizzlies will get Cam Boozer. Despite the smoke, the Grizzlies will land Cam Boozer at 3 — who fits everything Memphis wants with positional size, high feel, shooting, rebounding, and a competitiveness that fuels winning. He will be the centerpiece for the next iteration of Memphis Grizzlies basketball.
They will use the TPE to move up for a useful player. This prediction is also a preference. With getting the 3rd pick, they shouldn’t hastily go all in or anything, but there should be a competitive infrastructure early. One way to do that is to use the traded player exception to bring in someone that can be useful towards that goal. To go out on a limb, I’m going to provide this trade: Scotty Pippen Jr. and the 32nd pick to the Denver Nuggets for Cam Johnson and 26. If it’s Christian Braun instead, the Nuggets throw in a 2031 first-round pick swap.
They will grab another point guard. If the Grizzlies move up in the draft, it’s going to be for Kingston Flemings. If they stay at 16, let’s roll with Christian Anderson.
Other Reading
In case you want to look back at some draft work from the offseason.
My proudest work… my NBA Draft Guide…
I’ve also posted NBA Draft content all year, and you can find my work in this section.
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I like the combination of #3 Boozer #16 Steinbach to fill the void as a back up center. And if you want to go small with Hendricks at the five