This would be wild.
In a Bleacher Report story called "1 Major Question for Every Team After 2026 NBA Offseason," NBA analyst Greg Swartz posed this question for the Memphis Grizzlies: Is this a sneaky play-in team?
The Grizzlies basically have a new team next season. Ja Morant was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, Memphis acquired Isaiah Stewart from the Detroit Pistons and signed Golden State Warriors RFA Quinten Post and Cameron Boozer and Karim López were selected in the 2026 draft.
In the post-Morant era, the Grizzlies will be led by Boozer, Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, GG Jackson, Lopez and Stewart.
"The Grizzlies could surprise everyone next season and legitimately compete for a play-in seed in the West," Swartz wrote.
In Summer League, Boozer played well, averaging 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 45.2% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 77.3% from the free-throw line. The youngster made the Summer League First Team and led Memphis to the championship game, a contest the Golden State Warriors won.
Selected third overall in the 2026 draft behind AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, Boozer is expected to be a day-one starter for the Grizzlies alongside Coward, last season's All-Rookie First Team selection.
Boozer's combination of playmaking, physicality and positional flexibility as a 6-foot-10 forward has drawn comparisons to the multi-skilled roster construction that defined the New York Knicks' championship approach, per Tony Jones of The Athletic.
“Versatility is the name of the game. That’s what teams are looking for,” Boozer told The Athletic. “Teams want five guys who can make plays. Look at the Knicks this year. Everyone on that team was capable of doing more than one thing. Everyone was capable of playing on or off the basketball. That’s what I feel like I can do best. I can screen. I can handle it. You can put me in a lot of different scenarios.”
The Grizzlies are expected to start Ty Jerome, Jaylen Wells, Coward, Boozer and Edey next season. On paper, that's a pretty decent starting lineup.
Most people (not Swartz) believe the Grizzlies will struggle next season, but Scottie Pippen Jr. thinks the team will be fun to watch.
"I think just preparing as I always do, you know, getting ready this summer, working out every day," Pippen Jr. said, via ABS-CBN News. "Our team's going to be super, you know, exciting this year. I think a lot of people are counting us out."
