The Grizzlies have plenty of flexibility with how they want to approach the draft regardless of if Cam Boozer or Darryn Peterson is the pick at #3. Despite some previous optimism of being able to land a frontcourt upgrade like Morez Johnson Jr. at 16th overall, that dream is starting to fade, and the Grizzlies will likely have to trade up if they want to get him.
Michigan's frontcourt was a driving force to winning the 2026 national championship, and there is a very real shot they produce three lottery picks on Tuesday night. Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara have consistently been discussed as lottery picks in mock drafts, but Morez Johnson Jr. could sneak into the lottery as well.
The Grizzlies would almost certainly have to trade up to get him
Last night, Jake Fischer gave out some very valuable draft intel, and it was especially notable what he said about Morez Johnson Jr. (subscription required). Fischer wrote, "Teams picking just outside the lottery are increasingly operating under the belief that Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. won't be on the board past Chicago at No. 15 … if he even makes it that far."
Fischer also added that the Oklahoma City Thunder would be interested in Johnson Jr. at 12 and that his floor could even be the Charlotte Hornets at #14. Even though the Grizzlies would still be able to land a quality player at #16, it's almost a certainty at this point that Morez Johnson Jr. would not make it to the pick.
Last year, we saw the Grizzlies trade up from #16 to #11 to select Cedric Coward, a move that clearly paid off. It could very easily be worth it for the Grizzlies to move up from #16 for the second straight year to leapfrog the Thunder and select Morez Johnson Jr. Listed at 6 foot 9 and 250 pounds, Johnson Jr. is a tremendous athlete that can guard multiple positions and is a tenacious rebounder.
The Grizzlies suffered immensely on the defensive end without Zach Edey last season, and arguably the #1 offseason priority should be to have an answer for the minutes he's off the floor. Johnson Jr. will bring a strong motor and give the Grizzlies another quality screener in Tuomas Iisalo's offense, even though his overall offensive game needs more polishing.
Given how successful the Michigan frontcourt was this past season, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see Morez Johnson Jr. join the draft lottery conversation like his teammates Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg. If the latest intel is true and the Grizzlies have to move up to select Johnson Jr., it is a move that they must strongly consider.
Whether the Grizzlies get Darryn Peterson or Cam Boozer, they can arguably be the biggest winners of the entire draft if they move up and select Morez Johnson Jr. as well.
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