With Cameron Boozer likely at No. 3 in the Grizzlies' 2026 NBA Draft plans, here's why Memphis should trade up for Houston's Kingston Flemings.
The Memphis Grizzlies will shape the next era of their franchise with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and soon they'll know who they're building around.
Cameron Boozer is the odds-on favorite to land in Memphis. There's a chance the Utah Jazz take him at No. 2, but they're more likely to select Darryn Peterson and leave Boozer on the board for the Grizzlies.
If Memphis gets Boozer, he becomes the franchise player, and every move after that should serve him. There are also rumors the Grizzlies could look to trade up from their second first-round selection, the No. 16 overall pick. If they do, one target should stand above the rest.
Grizzlies Should Target a Point Guard in Any Trade-Up
That player is Houston's Kingston Flemings.
Flemings sits in a tier of guards viewed as comparable prospects. Darius Acuff Jr. and Mikel Brown Jr. arguably have higher ceilings, and Keaton Wagler offers a similar high floor. Flemings is still the right choice for Memphis.
Acuff Jr. projects as a highly productive scorer, but the concerns about his defense are real. With Boozer projecting as a playmaking hub, that's a roster-building problem the Grizzlies don't need to inherit.
Brown Jr.'s size makes him intriguing, since the league covets playmakers at 6-foot-5 and up. As a 34.4% three-point shooter, though, he profiles as a ball-dominant guard, which makes him a tougher fit next to Boozer.
The case for Flemings over Wagler is a little different. Wagler is a combo guard who would also fit well alongside Boozer, but landing a true point guard who can play off him should be the higher priority, and that's where Flemings comes in.
Boozer and Flemings Could Elevate the Grizzlies
Flemings shot 38.7% from three this season and is perhaps the best on-ball defender in the class. Those are exactly the traits Memphis should want next to Boozer.
Getting him won't be easy. These guards are all projected to land in the top 10, so Memphis might have to give up its 2027 first-round pick from the Jazz to move up for Flemings.
That could be a price worth paying. Because of the league's new anti-tanking measures, that pick cannot land in the top five anyway. It's still a valuable asset, but pairing Boozer with Flemings would be worth parting with it. A backcourt-and-frontcourt foundation like that could set Memphis up for years.
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