The NBA Draft Lottery is fast approaching and will heavily decide the Grizzlies' immediate future. There are plenty of draft lottery outcomes that could happen for the Grizzlies, but there is one perfect match for them if they land in the top 3: that is Cam Boozer.
Unless something drastically shifts, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson, in some order, will end up being the top 3 picks of a loaded 2026 NBA Draft. Dybansta or Peterson ending up in Memphis would also be great, but Cam Boozer in a Grizzlies jersey just seems to make too much sense.
Cam Boozer had a productive freshman season at Duke, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 38 games. Boozer also had solid 55.6/39.1/78.9 shooting splits and added 2 stocks (steals and blocks) per game.
Boozer brings physicality and high-level offense the Grizzlies need
Listed at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Boozer brings the physicality and offensive presence that the Grizzlies desperately need. Similar to Zach Edey's draft process, a lot of the concerns related to Boozer about playing bully ball in the NBA are wildly exaggerated, although they have different playstyles. Boozer is a tenacious rebounder and has also shown an impressive ability to get to the free throw line, both things that will translate in the NBA.
Even with some athletic and rim protection concerns, there is still so much to like about Cam Boozer, especially in Memphis. Boozer is able to score efficiently from plenty of different play types and is very comfortable in pick-and-roll. For a forward, Boozer is a very high-level playmaker and is constantly making the right reads. A key huge plus of his playmaking is that he is extremely comfortable passing out of double teams in the post.
Zach Edey and Cam Boozer would be an elite frontcourt pairing
Even with the concerns about Boozer's rim protection skills, luckily he has a blossoming center in Zach Edey, who thrives in that area. Boozer's passing ability would also free up space for Edey on the offensive end. Their blend of physicality and basketball IQ would allow for the Grizzlies to have a much faster path towards returning to playoff contention.
One of the things that really plagued the Grizzlies last year was the lack of frontcourt depth. It was evident how badly the team missed Zach Edey after he reinjured himself. While the Grizzlies must boost the depth behind Edey, the team selecting Cam Boozer would be a dream case scenario and give Edey a great frontcourt partner.
A lot hinges on where the Grizzlies pick actually ends up landing on Sunday. If the pick lands in the top 3, the Grizzlies have a great shot to return to the playoffs sooner than many expect. Even though Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa would also be sound picks, Cam Boozer is the perfect match for the Grizzlies in the top 3.
Add us as a preferred source on Google