The Grizzlies shot just 14% from three in their Summer League opener, and Cam Spencer's breakout shooting season could be the answer Memphis needs in 2026-27.
The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Chicago Bulls in their Las Vegas Summer League debut, but it wasn't pretty.
The final score was 97-96. The Grizzlies' offense looked good, but they struggled to put the ball in the basket. Those struggles were especially noticeable from the three-point line. The Grizzlies were 3-of-21 (14%) from beyond the arc.
It's a problem that could carry into the 2026-27 regular season. For all of the Grizzlies' talent, this roster is somewhat light on three-point shooting.
That makes one surprising player the team's X-factor in 2026-27.
Grizzlies Could Lean on Crucial Role Player
That would be Cam Spencer.
Last year, Spencer had something of a breakout season. He averaged 11.1 points per game while shooting a scorching 44.9% on 4.5 threes per contest. Spencer emerged as one of the best shooters in the NBA.
He's also a competent defender who always plays hard. In other words, he's a perfect complementary player. Spencer played 23.8 minutes per game for Memphis last year, and the team may want to increase that total in 2026-27.
Grizzlies' Spencer Could Unlock Offense
The Grizzlies already know they're better with Spencer on the floor. Last year, he had a +2.2 Box Plus/Minus (BPM).
Granted, this year's roster is going to look a lot different. Ja Morant and Santi Aldama are out. Cameron Boozer, Karim Lopez, Quinten Post, and Isaiah Stewart are in.
All told, these are exciting changes. The Grizzlies got younger. Boozer has looked the part of a franchise player. Still, there's a commonality between these changes: Memphis is light on movement shooting.
Post is an excellent stretch big, but he's more of a standstill shooter. Boozer is a fine shooter, but he'll largely have the ball in his hands. The roster is light on guys who can come off screens to get open from beyond the arc.
That's why Spencer should be so pivotal next season.
The Grizzlies' intentions for 2026-27 are hard to say for certain. Still, given their history, in addition to the league's new lottery rules, it feels unlikely that they'll be "tanking" in any conventional sense.
Assuming they're trying to compete, they're going to want to make use of Spencer. If he can approximate his three-point efficiency from 2025-26 on increased volume, he could be a surprisingly integral part of any success they have in 2026-27.
If nothing else, Memphis surely could have used him against the Bulls.
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