The Memphis Grizzlies enter a new era with major questions about Cameron Boozer, Ty Jerome, Zach Edey, trades and their 2027 draft position.
The 2026-27 season will be the beginning of a new era for the Memphis Grizzlies. It will come with plenty of questions to answer:
But these five stand above the rest.
1. Does This Team Want to Win?
"Tanking" has long been a dirty word in certain NBA circles. It's only gotten dirtier in recent years. Now, the league is officially taking measures to mitigate the practice.
The new lottery odds will incentivize losing far less than before. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies added a surplus of young talent this summer. Could they disregard lottery odds and simply go for as many wins as they can accumulate?
Frankly, they might as well. The inexperienced Grizzlies will still lose, and with the new odds, they could easily land in a sweet spot where their young guys get the experience of competing, and they still land a high pick in the offseason.
Besides, their fate is partially tied to another team anyway.
2. Will the Jazz Send Them a Good Pick?
The Grizzlies own the Jazz's 2027 first-round pick.
If it lands in the top-5, the new rules will automatically bump it down to sixth, since the Jazz have been in the top-5 for two consecutive seasons.
That said, the Jazz do not project to send a top-5 pick. The same deal that sent the Grizzlies this pick sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Jazz. With Jackson Jr. added and potential franchise player Darryn Peterson drafted, the Jazz will likely want to win in 2026-27.
How much winning can they do? Like the Grizzlies, the Jazz are young, but they do have more established veterans like Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. Will they be a playoff lock, or could they send the Grizzlies a pick in the back half of the lottery?
3. Can They Stay Healthy?
This is a pressing question for any NBA team, but it feels particularly relevant to the Grizzlies.
In 2025-26, Ty Jerome played in just 15 contests. Zach Edey suited up for 11. The Grizzlies will want better health from both, for entirely different reasons.
In the case of Edey, they're hoping he can be a cornerstone player. As the biggest man in the NBA, he gives the team advantages, but they're meaningless if he can't get on the floor.
As for Jerome, they'll want him healthy until at least the trade deadline...
4. Will They Make a Major Trade?
This one really ties back to number one. How badly do the Grizzlies want to win? Would they pass on the opportunity to trade a veteran for assets if it presented itself?
Jerome is the most obvious candidate. If he can stay on the floor, he should be worth a first-round pick on the open market. Jerami Grant's contract may deter suitors, but he is a useful piece for a contender.
The Grizzlies' deadline activity will tell us a lot about the team's current philosophy. If they're playing the long game, moving anyone not on a rookie contract for future assets would be the sensible direction:
But one variable can tell us the most about that future.
5. How Good Is Cameron Boozer?
Rookies should always be judged on a different scale. If Boozer is a positive NBA player next year, he'll be an exception to a rule.
Still, the Grizzlies will hope he can positively impact the game in flashes. Typically, future All-NBA stars will have ups and downs as rookies. As long as Boozer has enough ups, Memphis will be satisfied.
After all, he's expected to lead them into their new era.
