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It's no secret the Memphis Grizzlies are rebuilding. Whether it was the trades of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. or the comments from general manager Zach Kleiman, the franchise's direction was apparent.
What had remained uncertain was exactly what that future would look like, and how the Grizzlies planned to get there.
During the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23 in New York, Memphis offered its clearest answer yet.
Kleiman had hinted at the vision in April when he said the Grizzlies wanted to become bigger, stronger and more physical. By drafting Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 pick and acquiring Karim Lopez at No. 21, the blueprint for Memphis' future is beginning to take shape.
Kleiman essentially acknowledged that Boozer was the player Memphis wanted all along. Getting Lopez was about snagging what the Grizzlies believed was the best player available.
"Being able to both bring in Cam and Karim certainly fit the mold that we felt like was missing on the roster as we began to build out this group," Kleiman said after the first round.
The Grizzlies want to become the bullies. When they have been at their best, that's exactly what they have been.
Adding the 6-foot-9, 250-pound Boozer gives Memphis one of the biggest — and potentially most imposing — frontcourts in the NBA if he shares the floor with 7-4 center Zach Edey.
Boozer's college tape is filled with possessions in which he overwhelms smaller defenders with strength and physicality. The same can be said for Edey. Both players entered the NBA with reputations as elite rebounders, an area in which Memphis hasn't been the same since its back-to-back seasons as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference (2022 and 2023).
"I think we would automatically become one of the best rebounding duos in the league," Boozer said.
Then there's Lopez.
He's every bit of his 6-9, 225-pound frame, and he doesn't shy away from physical play. He also boasts a wingspan approaching 7 feet.
With Lopez, Boozer, Edey and Cedric Coward on the floor together, Memphis could feature four players with wingspans of 6-11 or longer. That's the type of length and versatility that championship-caliber defenses are built on, and it's a trait the Grizzlies are prioritizing.
The previous roster wasn't constructed with this philosophy in mind. But the NBA continues to evolve, and teams increasingly covet bigger, more versatile players who can affect multiple areas of the game.
Whether this approach ultimately returns Memphis to the top of the Western Conference remains to be seen. But after the first round of the 2026 draft, one thing is undeniable: The Grizzlies have a vision, and their plan is officially in motion.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies' Cameron Boozer, Karim Lopez offer glimpse into future
Continue reading...
What had remained uncertain was exactly what that future would look like, and how the Grizzlies planned to get there.
During the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23 in New York, Memphis offered its clearest answer yet.
Kleiman had hinted at the vision in April when he said the Grizzlies wanted to become bigger, stronger and more physical. By drafting Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 pick and acquiring Karim Lopez at No. 21, the blueprint for Memphis' future is beginning to take shape.
Kleiman essentially acknowledged that Boozer was the player Memphis wanted all along. Getting Lopez was about snagging what the Grizzlies believed was the best player available.
"Being able to both bring in Cam and Karim certainly fit the mold that we felt like was missing on the roster as we began to build out this group," Kleiman said after the first round.
The Grizzlies want to become the bullies. When they have been at their best, that's exactly what they have been.
Adding the 6-foot-9, 250-pound Boozer gives Memphis one of the biggest — and potentially most imposing — frontcourts in the NBA if he shares the floor with 7-4 center Zach Edey.
Boozer's college tape is filled with possessions in which he overwhelms smaller defenders with strength and physicality. The same can be said for Edey. Both players entered the NBA with reputations as elite rebounders, an area in which Memphis hasn't been the same since its back-to-back seasons as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference (2022 and 2023).
"I think we would automatically become one of the best rebounding duos in the league," Boozer said.
Then there's Lopez.
He's every bit of his 6-9, 225-pound frame, and he doesn't shy away from physical play. He also boasts a wingspan approaching 7 feet.
With Lopez, Boozer, Edey and Cedric Coward on the floor together, Memphis could feature four players with wingspans of 6-11 or longer. That's the type of length and versatility that championship-caliber defenses are built on, and it's a trait the Grizzlies are prioritizing.
The previous roster wasn't constructed with this philosophy in mind. But the NBA continues to evolve, and teams increasingly covet bigger, more versatile players who can affect multiple areas of the game.
Whether this approach ultimately returns Memphis to the top of the Western Conference remains to be seen. But after the first round of the 2026 draft, one thing is undeniable: The Grizzlies have a vision, and their plan is officially in motion.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies' Cameron Boozer, Karim Lopez offer glimpse into future
Continue reading...
