Memphis GrizzliesBoozer and Coward open Memphis's new cycle
Memphis is building a new core after Morant's departure. Iisalo must share responsibility between young players and experienced reinforcements.
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The Memphis Grizzlies finished the 2025–2026 season with 25 wins and 57 losses, missing out on the playoffs.
A project that has changed direction
Tuomas Iisalo's Grizzlies have turned the page on Ja Morant, who has left for Portland, having already traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah during last season. Their 25-win campaign did not end in a playoff place. The group must now build its game around other reference points, with Cameron Boozer, picked third in the draft, and Cedric Coward among the most eagerly awaited players.
per game
per game
per game
Reinforcements to support the core
Jerami Grant and Kris Murray are among the new arrivals. Isaiah Stewart and Quinten Post bolster the options inside. These players do not all fill the same role: Grant can act as a link on the wings, Stewart offer a different pairing in the paint and Post widen the coach's choices.
- →Cameron BoozerCameron Boozer · joins the squad
- →Jerami GrantJerami Grant · joins the squad
- →Kris MurrayKris Murray · joins the squad
- →Isaiah StewartIsaiah Stewart · joins the squad
- →Quinten PostQuinten Post · joins the squad
- ←Ja Morant · leaves the squad
- ←Jaren Jackson Jr. · leaves the squad
Scoring reference points in the current squad
2025–26 regular season, all teams combined. Selection of players with at least ten games; not an exhaustive ranking. Not all newcomers produced these numbers with their current club.
Cedric Coward, a reference point in the squad
12 % of the team's scoring average
10 % of the team's assists average
Ratios of per-game averages for 2025–26; player and team have not necessarily played the same number of games. SNA estimates, not official shares of totals.
Boozer, a responsibility to grow into
Memphis can gradually hand the rookie touches in several areas of the floor, without asking him to solve every possession on his own. Coward is another anchor on the perimeter. At media day, executive Zach Kleiman refused to put limits in advance on the responsibilities Boozer could earn. That openness does not set his future statistics or an unchangeable pecking order.
Who runs the offence, who holds the paint?
Our projection gives Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. responsibility for running the offence. Jaylen Wells and Coward can complete the perimeter, with Grant in several combinations. Boozer, Zach Edey and Stewart offer different inside profiles. Cam Spencer, GG Jackson and the other young players in the group will have to find their place in this distribution. This reading applies to the season as a whole: it is not an opening line-up or a guarantee of availability.
Playmaking
On the wings
Inside
SNA season projection, not an official starting five or a guaranteed available line-up for the opener. Absences and uncertainties are detailed in the dated update.
Three-point shooting, player by player
2025–26 regular season, all teams combined. Red line: club average, 35.3%. Selection: minimum of ten games and at least one attempt per game.
Availability: the picture at 14 October
As of 14 October 2026, Stewart is listed as out and Micah Peavy as day-to-day. These preparation statuses and return estimates do not confirm availability for the first game. The roles outlined above apply to the season as a whole.
The squad: 21 players
Official preparation list: 21 players. The positions follow the official categories; they do not indicate a rotation hierarchy. Being on this list guarantees neither a permanent contract nor playing time.
| Player | Status | Pts | Reb | Ast | 3PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forwards · versatile positions | |||||
| Jaylen Wells | – | – | – | – | |
| Ty Jerome | 19.7 | 2.8 | 5.7 | 42 % | |
| Jerami Grant | Newcomer | 18.6 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 38.9 % |
| Micah Peavy | Doubtful | – | – | – | – |
| Kris Murray | Newcomer | – | – | – | – |
| Olivier-Maxence Prosper | – | – | – | – | |
| Taylor Hendricks | – | – | – | – | |
| Cameron Boozer | Newcomer | – | – | – | – |
| Karim Lopez | – | – | – | – | |
| GG Jackson | – | – | – | – | |
| Carson Cooper | – | – | – | – | |
| Guards | |||||
| Scotty Pippen Jr. | 11.4 | 2.2 | 4.7 | 31.3 % | |
| Walter Clayton Jr. | – | – | – | – | |
| Javon Small | – | – | – | – | |
| Cedric Coward | 13.6 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 33.8 % | |
| Cam Spencer | – | – | – | – | |
| Jahmai Mashack | – | – | – | – | |
| Centres and bigs | |||||
| Zach Edey | 13.6 | 11.1 | 1.1 | – | |
| Isaiah Stewart | RookieOut | – | – | – | – |
| Quinten Post | Rookie | 7.7 | 4 | 1.4 | 33.6 % |
No SNA profile available: Zach Cleveland (forward). They complete the 20 players in the table. 2025–2026 averages, all teams combined, for players with documented stats. “–”: unverified data, fewer than ten games or fewer than one three-point attempt per game. Statuses as of 15 October: preparation estimates, no guarantee for the opener. Camp group, not a final rotation.
Measuring a rebuild without predicting the standings
The variety of young profiles and Boozer's creative ability are resources to be developed. Collective inexperience, the need to establish a pecking order and the health of Zach Edey, who was limited to 11 games last season by recurring left ankle injuries, are also limitations. Memphis can look to win more and build an identity, without presenting the playoffs as an automatic consequence of the draft. The first games will show how initiative is shared, how Boozer decides under pressure and how the perimeter players work with Edey.
The foundations
- The responsibilities Boozer and Coward must develop.
- A variety of young profiles.
- Several possible frontcourt pairings.
The challenges
- Establishing a hierarchy.
- Supporting collective inexperience.
- Coping with physical uncertainties.
Win more and build an identity, without presenting the playoffs as an automatic consequence of the draft.
The first markers are pairings and roles to watch, not an established hierarchy or a guarantee of results.
The regular season opens at home against Utah on 22 October at 1:00 Brazzaville time (0:00 UTC), which is the evening of 21 October locally. Check out the Memphis Grizzlies profile and the match page.
Thursday 22 October 2026 at 01:00, Brazzaville time · match centre
- The team’s live schedule appears here.
Countdown to tip-off.