The Memphis Grizzlies are rebuilding around Cameron Boozer, but Bleacher Report believes the young roster could make a surprise run at the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The Memphis Grizzlies are rebuilding, but there's a chance that they're competitive in 2026-27. Bleacher Report's one major question about the team is whether they can compete for a play-in spot.
They recently published a piece posing one major question for every team in the NBA. That's what they chose for Memphis. They called them a potential "sneaky play-in team."
Honestly, they may not be far off-base.
Memphis Could Be A Sneaky Play-In Team
Some will disagree. A team as young as the Grizzlies is not supposed to win a lot of games.
Yet, Memphis has some veteran support, too. Big man Isaiah Stewart is accustomed to winning basketball. Wing Jerami Grant is a seasoned veteran. Guard Ty Jerome is polished and ready to win now.
There are questions. Can Jerome stay healthy? What about center Zach Edey? Will Stewart thrive in a new environment? Will Grant be as motivated in a rebuilding environment as he otherwise could be?
Those are all important questions, but none are the most important. There's one player who can define the team's 2026-27 season more than anyone.
Bleacher Report identified the same player.
Cameron Boozer Could Define Memphis’ Ceiling
Greg Swartz wrote that Cameron Boozer is unlikely to look like a typical rookie and expects him to serve as an offensive hub right away.
It's an interesting proposition. It's a slightly bold assumption, but at the same time, there's merit in it.
Boozer is not a project. This is not a raw, hyperathletic 18-year-old who needs to develop his skills before he can contribute. Boozer is already a good basketball player.
We don't need to rely on the eye test to draw that conclusion. The numbers support it. Boozer's 19.8 Box Plus/Minus (BPM) at Duke was the second-highest mark since 2010-11, trailing only fellow Duke product Zion Williamson.
In terms of projections, that makes it likely that Boozer will be a more productive rookie than average. He'll have his struggles — every rookie does — but he should be a more reliable rotation player than a standard freshman.
Will that be enough to get Memphis into the play-in?
Development Still Comes First In Memphis
A 2026-27 play-in run is not this organization's top priority.
Their future outlook is far more important. Developing their youngest players should be the focus heading into this season.
That said, a play-in run could be what's best for development. If Memphis is leaning on the players who can define their future, and they make a play-in appearance in the process, that would be the best-case scenario for the season.
For now, all we can do is ask what's possible.
