Discover the emerging stars poised to shape the Grizzlies' future. From versatile wings to dominant bigs, these talents are igniting the league.
The Memphis Grizzlies made one of the most consequential moves of the NBA trade deadline.
Unable to find a deal involving their mercurial point guard, the franchise pivoted and instead moved Jaren Jackson Jr., emerging from the deadline with three future first-round picks and a reshaped young core.
Here are four of the Grizzlies’ most intriguing players moving forward.
4. Jaylen Wells
Wells projects as a rotation piece with a clear identity: a two-way wing who spaces the floor and competes defensively.
The perimeter shooting remains the swing skill. Wells is hitting 33.7% from 3-point range this season and owns a 34.6% career mark. That puts him in a workable range, but improvement there would elevate his profile considerably.
He has not been asked to initiate much offense, functioning mostly off the ball. If injuries or roster turnover force a larger role, the Grizzlies may learn whether he has more playmaking upside than his current usage suggests.
3. GG Jackson II
Jackson delivered an eye-opening rookie season, averaging 14.6 points in 25.7 minutes per game, though his role has fluctuated since.
Still just 21, Jackson remains one of Memphis’ most tantalizing prospects. At 6-foot-9, he can create shots at all three levels, a trait few players his size possess.
Consistency is the next hurdle. Ball-stopping tendencies and uneven defensive engagement have limited his reliability. If he sharpens those areas, Jackson could emerge as a foundational scorer.
2. Zach Edey
There is an argument for Edey sitting atop this list.
When available, he has been dominant, averaging 13.6 points and 11.1 rebounds during the 2025–26 season. The issue has been availability. Those numbers have come in only 11 games.
Health has long been the question for players of Edey’s size. If he can remain on the floor, his physical presence gives Memphis something few teams can replicate.
1. Cedric Coward
Selected 11th in the 2025 draft, Coward has quickly made teams above Memphis rethink their decisions.
Once projected as a possible high-lottery pick before a college injury derailed his stock, Coward has played like that player again in the pros. He is averaging 13.6 points and 6.3 rebounds while defending multiple positions.
Coward can score off the dribble, space the floor, and take on difficult matchups — a skill set that has drawn stylistic comparisons to Paul George.
Two-way wings who can generate offense are among the NBA’s most prized archetypes. If Coward continues on this trajectory, he could become the centerpiece of Memphis’ next era.