Cedric Coward is coming off a very successful rookie season after the Grizzlies traded up to select him 11th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Coward ended up averaging 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 62 games, which led to him landing on All-Rookie First Team.
Even after an impressive rookie season, Cedric Coward is a part of this year's Summer League squad and has appeared in two games. It is already encouraging to see how much stronger Coward looks and how strong his defensive playmaking and activity have been. But if there is one key area that Cedric Coward has to improve in, it is his ball-handling.
It is clear that Cedric Coward will be a valuable long-term piece in Memphis, and it's simply a matter of how much his game continues to evolve. Coward's game should have a safe floor thanks to the fact that he gets defensive stops and rebounds really well for his position. Coward is also able to score in a variety of ways on and off ball.
However, Cedric Coward's ball-handling could be the difference between being a consistently reliable role player or becoming one of the best two-way players in the league.
Cedric Coward's Summer League performances aren't concerning
At the very worst, Cedric Coward should be a very good connective piece for players such as Cam Boozer and Zach Edey. But if Cedric Coward makes a significant leap as a ball-handler, that could significantly raise the ceiling of the Grizzlies.
Cedric Coward simply wouldn't have had one of the best on/off swings in the NBA last season if he weren't constantly making the right decisions on both sides of the floor. Understandably, plenty of fans are upset about the fact that Cam Boozer did not get more offensive touches against Darryn Peterson's Utah Jazz.
Part of the reason for that was the fact that Cedric Coward took a high volume of shots, but fans should not worry about Coward's decision-making in the regular season. Plus, if anything, it is simply better for Coward's development that he is getting significant on-ball reps this summer, something the Grizzlies arguably did not do enough of last season.
The Grizzlies could have one of the most promising cores in the West
Cedric Coward has shown comfort as a ball handler in transition so far this summer, but it's clear he can get much more comfortable in the half-court offense. That is not to discount the leap he is showing defensively and the fact he looks way stronger than his rookie season.
However, an improved handle could allow Cedric Coward to not just be a winning player, but also potentially become an elite wing in this league. It is a good thing that Cedric Coward is getting on-ball reps this summer, especially when considering the fact he didn't get to play in Summer League last summer.
The Grizzlies are off to the dream start to their rebuild with how many assets they have to build around a young core of Zach Edey, Cam Boozer, and Cedric Coward. If Cedric Coward's ball-handling improves, the Grizzlies could have one of the most promising cores in the Western Conference very soon.
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