The Memphis Grizzlies are projected to select Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 overall pick in The Athletic's 2026 NBA Draft mock.
The Memphis Grizzlies are projected to select Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to a mock draft published Monday by The Athletic.
The Duke forward was tabbed for Memphis by The Athletic's Will Guillory, who wrote Boozer would help the franchise establish the foundation for the next phase of its identity. The Grizzlies landed the No. 3 pick after Sunday's NBA Draft lottery.
The Washington Wizards (No. 1) and Utah Jazz (No. 2) hold the top two picks. AJ Dybantsa (BYU) is The Athletic's projected No. 1 pick to the Wizards. Darryn Peterson (Kansas), described by The Athletic's Tony Jones as one of the best scoring prospects in recent years, is the publication's projected No. 2 pick to the Jazz.
Boozer is the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. He played his freshman season at Duke after arriving as a five-star recruit out of Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where he was one of the top-ranked prospects in the 2025 high school class.
Guillory wrote that a frontcourt pairing of Boozer with Zach Edey would create a "matchup problem for a lot of teams because of size and strength." Edey, the 2024 No. 9 overall pick, was limited to 11 games last season because of ankle injuries.
The Grizzlies' young core also includes Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells. Guillory framed Boozer's arrival as the next phase of the Memphis Grit and Grind era, the franchise's defensive identity that defined its playoff runs in the 2010s.
Guillory also addressed the Ja Morant situation in his projection. He wrote that having a rookie with All-Star potential could make it easier for Memphis to move on from Morant and commit fully to a rebuild.
With Edey at No. 9 in 2024 and Boozer projected at No. 3 in 2026, the Grizzlies would select a second top-10 frontcourt prospect in three drafts.
Caleb Wilson (North Carolina) is The Athletic's projection for the Chicago Bulls at No. 4. The 6-foot-10, 215-pound freshman is described as a defensively versatile prospect with explosive athleticism. The Atlanta Hawks pick at No. 8 and are projected to take Brayden Burries (Arizona). The Milwaukee Bucks (No. 10) are tabbed for Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama), with the Bucks awaiting clarity on Giannis Antetokounmpo's future. Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), who averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds last season, is projected to the Golden State Warriors at No. 11.
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft will be held on June 23, with the second round taking place the following night.
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