There are plenty of negatives to focus on with this Memphis Grizzlies season. But there is one very obvious positive, and that is the Grizzlies crushed the 2025 NBA Draft. Bleacher Report handed out final grades for every rookie class in the league, and the Grizzlies received an A. Let's be real, every Grizzlies fan already knew how good their rookie class has been, and Bleacher Report's grade further validates them.
At the time, the Grizzlies made an ambitious move to trade up and select Cedric Coward 11th overall. The Grizzlies gave up a lot to move up, giving up pick #16, a 2028 first-rounder via Orlando, and two second-round picks to the Portland Trail Blazers. Yang Hansen could eventually become a solid player in Portland; however, Grizzlies fans should be very happy with how well Cedric Coward is already performing.
The Grizzlies could have justifiably attempted to move up in the second round to add another quality wing or frontcourt option. Instead, the team selected Javon Small 48th overall. Small significantly exceeded expectations after unexpectedly getting additional playing time due to injuries.
Cedric Coward is already making a winning impact despite the tank
Despite the Grizzlies making a clear effort to improve their 2026 NBA Draft positioning after the new year, Cedric Coward still made a winning impact as a rookie. A surprising stat to many, Cedric Coward was a top 5 player in the entire NBA for on/off swings. This is no small accomplishment given the rest of the top 5 consisted of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard, and Nikola Jokic.
It remains to be seen how much Cedric Coward develops as an on-ball creator, but it is already a great sign to see how much he already impacts winning. Cedric Coward is a smart offensive player off-ball and has plenty of defensive potential to tap into as his career goes on. It is also a huge plus that he is a quality rebounder. Coward averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists despite playing just 25.8 minutes per game.
There is time to figure out what his best role for the future is, but the Grizzlies clearly struck gold by trading up and selecting Cedric Coward.
Small can become a very reliable bench piece
Javon Small was simply one of the better value picks of the entire 2025 NBA Draft. Even though Small might have a hard time becoming a starting-caliber guard, he has all the tools needed to remain a reliable bench piece in Memphis. Small averaged 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 20.2 minutes per game and was way more productive after the trade deadline.
Even though Small is still currently on a two-way contract, it feels pretty obvious that he should get a standard contract this offseason. Rookie Walter Clayton Jr. struggled mightily, and Ja Morant's future is likely outside of Memphis. With those two things in mind, Small has a clear path to remaining on the team.
Yes, the Memphis Grizzlies have a long way to reach a championship level as they rebuild. But there is one thing that remains obvious. The Grizzlies' 2025 NBA Draft class fully deserves the A grade that they received. Cedric Coward and Javon Small can absolutely be key pieces that speed up a rebuild in Memphis.
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