The Memphis Grizzlies hold the third pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Here is why a Thunder trade-up for Cameron Boozer is unlikely and Memphis should pick.
With the third pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies select... Nobody?
It's an unlikely outcome. The Grizzlies were blessed with the third pick in what's widely regarded as a three (or, depending on your view of Caleb Wilson, four) man draft. There are a few realistic scenarios that would have Memphis trading that pick. Sure, if the Spurs called with Victor Wembanyama, Memphis would take.
What if the Oklahoma City Thunder called? They have a cache of future-focused assets. Some rumors have suggested that they'd like to try to trade for the Grizzlies' third pick to select Cameron Boozer.
Is that remotely realistic?
Grizzlies unlikely to part with third pick
Never say never, but feel free to say "probably not".
What could the Thunder offer? They own the 12th and 17th picks in the draft. It's been suggested that they could look to consolidate those picks and trade up. That could get them, say, the 9th pick, but to grab the Grizzlies' third, they'd need to offer more.
Like, a metric ton more.
Jalen Williams? Ajay Mitchell? That's a start. Williams is a young star player, and Mitchell seems to be on the same path. That said, the Grizzlies may still prefer to simply select a prospect (likely Boozer). That allows them to keep their new cornerstone on rookie money for a few years while they shape the roster around him.
To even tempt the Grizzlies, they'd likely have to include future picks. If the Thunder were willing to part with Williams, Mitchell, and two or three future firsts, the Grizzlies may bite. Here's the problem.
The Thunder are unlikely to make that type of offer.
Grizzlies, Thunder unlikely to find a deal
The Thunder have enough stuff to wrestle the third pick from Memphis on a pure market value basis. The issue is that nothing is as valuable to Memphis as the opportunity to potentially draft its franchise player. They'd need a return that would be too absurd for the Thunder to consider to make that move.
There's just not a deal here. The Thunder won't be drafting Boozer unless they're so desperate that they'd do something crazy. They should be scouting prospects like Yaxel Lendeborg and Brayden Burries, not Boozer. The Grizzlies have no incentive to part with a highly valuable pick in any realistic scenario.
It makes more sense for them to simply make the pick.
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