Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman broke down drafting Duke forward Cameron Boozer at No. 3, calling him a long-term fit and potential playmaking hub for Memphis.
The Memphis Grizzlies chose Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 pick in Tuesday's NBA draft. General manager Zach Kleiman considers the Duke forward a good long-term match both on and off the court.
The pick marked the second time in franchise history that Memphis has drafted third overall.
"We certainly think he's a great fit here on court," Kleiman said. "Off court, I think he's going to represent this organization and this city very well for years and years to come."
Kleiman did not put a ceiling on Boozer's development, and he pointed to a range of skills like playmaking, rebounding and interior physicality that he expects to show up over time.
"I think there's a lot to Cam's game that everyone's going to just begin to see over the years," Kleiman said. "I think he could be a playmaking hub. Obviously the rebounding, the physicality around the rim. But not going to put a limit. There's work to be done, and I have no doubt, from everything we've learned and seen from Cam so far, that he's going to put in that work to be the best player that he can be. There's a lot to his game. I think it's going to surprise a lot of people, where he's able to get to over time."
Boozer is coming off a season at Duke that included national player of the year honors, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals, while shooting 55.6% from the floor, 39.1% on 3-pointers, and 78.9% on free throws.
As the son of two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, Cameron is about to turn 19 in July and is regarded as the most NBA-ready prospect in his class. However, some view his ceiling as more limited because of his athleticism compared to other top prospects, such as AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, who were selected before him.
Boozer's mix of inside presence and outside shooting enhances Memphis's frontcourt, adding versatility to a young group that includes Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and Zach Edey. The Grizzlies need clarity regarding a top offensive option. Now, they get a skilled option that can invert the offense in space. He has skill on both ends of a pick-and-roll and can orchestrate dribble handoffs. His combination of size and skill makes attacking mismatches an advantage. There are a lot of layers for a half-court offense to benefit.
The Grizzlies also entered Tuesday holding the No. 16 overall pick but traded down twice. The end result was ultimately New Zealand Breakers forward Karim López at No. 21. Memphis walked away, adding five second-round picks after making both deals.
What comes next remains to be seen for the Grizzlies. Ja Morant's future remains unsettled as the trade market appears quite limited. Among teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, and New Orleans Pelicans, those previously linked to Morant are no longer interested. The Miami Heat additionally landed Giannis Antetokounmpo, eliminating the need for any drastic backup plans.
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