The Cameron Boozer hype train isn't slowing down as his rookie season in the NBA nears.
Even though the Memphis Grizzlies have generated some positive buzz after officially pushing the reset button this summer, it isn't certain that the team will reap the benefits of its rebuild within the next three seasons.
That helps explain why ESPN, in a recent exercise where each team was ranked based on its outlook over the next three years, put the Grizzlies all the way down at No. 22.
But the ranking doesn't mean ESPN is low on incoming rookie Cameron Boozer. In fact, in the "bold prediction" section of the Memphis ranking, ESPN analyst Ben Golliver took the stance that Boozer "will challenge Pau Gasol as the most productive rookie in Grizzlies history."
After coming into the NBA as the No. 3 overall pick in 2001, Gasol made an immediate impact with the Grizzlies. He made 82 appearances and 79 starts and averaged a whopping 36.7 minutes per contest. Even though Memphis didn't win many games, he took home Rookie of the Year honors in a landslide after averaging 17.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per night.
Gasol then spent several more seasons with the Grizzlies and became an All-Star before being moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he became a two-time NBA champion.
More recently, Memphis got to enjoy another Rookie of the Year campaign. It came from former franchise cornerstone Ja Morant, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Morant averaged 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in his debut season, and like Gasol, he took home the Rookie of the Year award easily.
The guard remained with Memphis until this summer, when he was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers.
That trade cleared the way for Boozer to be the next Grizzlies centerpiece, and now, it's the 19-year-old's turn to make a Rookie of the Year push.
The No. 3 overall selection in this year's draft is a popular pick to win the honor. One NBA executive told Grizzlies Roundtable earlier this offseason that he expects Boozer to win Rookie of the Year, citing the fact that the forward isn't going to have to compete for shots on the Grizzlies. Some of the other top rookies this season will have to share usage with All-Star teammates.
Boozer had a fantastic one-and-done season at Duke and continued to look good in Summer League action after being drafted. While there are sure to be some growing pains for him in the NBA, he is in line to have a big debut season with the Grizzlies and may very well prove ESPN's prediction correct.
