Memphis Grizzlies beat writer Damichael Cole reported on Thursday that one anonymous player on the roster had recently spoken on the rookie Cedric Coward, saying that he's one of the best rookies he had ever seen. This is sure to cause some excitement among the Grizzlies' fanbase.
It would appear this is not the only glowing review Cedric has gotten since the start of camp, either. Scottie Pippen Jr. also remarked that he feels like Coward can guard every position on the court. It's clear that there's an increasing belief in Cedric, and although he didn't play in Summer League, both the fanbase and the local media are clearly excited about what he can bring for this team.
This is of significance to this Grizzlies team for a number of reasons. The first of which being positional importance. Memphis currently has several three-and-D type players, and cowards performance may force the coaching staff to reconsider roles and rearrange minutes as the season gets going.
If Cedric begins the season making the most of his minutes and showing off his strong defense and switchability, he could quickly become one of the first guys off the bench and earn his way into a bigger role than initially believed, depending on the matchups he finds himself in.
Cedric Coward can earn a bigger role fast in Memphis
The fact that several guys on this roster are already believers in him shows that there's more than just fan-based speculation going on here. Pippen's belief that he can guard every position on the floor suggests he could help cover up weak spots in certain lineups, and give the coaching staff more freedom in designing their rotations.
We know that training camp is always important for especially younger players on the roster, who are trying to prove themselves and show that they can be a difference-maker. But you have to think that it's that much more important for a guy like Cedric who wasn't able to showcase his abilities in Summer League. Putting in a lot of work and raising eyebrows now is only going to increase trust with his teammates and the coaches.
If the Grizzlies run into a situation where veterans on the roster are struggling a bit more than anticipated or possible injuries come into play, Coward's readiness is unquestionably going to give Memphis more options.
Basically, this is a dream scenario for this Grizzlies team. The Western Conference is arguably even more deep than it was last season, and developmental wins like this coming right off the bat are only going to increase the likelihood that Memphis can make a deep run next spring.