The ping-pong balls bounced the Memphis Grizzlies' way on Sunday night, and the Grizzlies wasted no time celebrating. After finishing the 2025-26 season with the sixth-worst record in the league and holding just a 9.4% chance of landing in the top three, Memphis defied the odds and jumped up to the No. 3 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft . It's a franchise-altering moment, and if Darryn Peterson indeed comes off the board at No. 2 to the Utah Jazz as widely projected, there's a clear and compelling answer waiting for the Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer.
Why Cameron Boozer is Memphis' Guy
Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) reacts during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
In most draft classes, Cameron Boozer would be the unquestioned No. 1 pick. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Duke freshman put together one of the most dominant true-freshman seasons in college basketball history, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 55.6% from the field and 39.1% from three. He won the Naismith Award, the AP Player of the Year Award, and led all of college basketball with a 17.1 box plus-minus score, carrying Duke to within a chaotic sequence of a Final Four berth .
Boozer's profile fits what Memphis desperately needs right now. The Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah at the deadline, leaving a gaping hole at the power forward and center hybrid position . The current frontcourt features Zach Edey as the anchor, but what Memphis lacks is a versatile, switchable big who can also create offense on his own. Boozer is exactly that player. His polished post game, face-up scoring ability, floor spacing from three, and high basketball IQ give him a projection as a foundational piece who can grow alongside Edey and the rest of Memphis' emerging young core.
His maturity alone separates him from most prospects in this class. As draft analyst Matt Babcock put it: “When you watch Cameron Boozer, it's easy to forget he's still a teenager. He carries himself like a veteran, with impressive physicality and poise”. That kind of readiness matters for a Grizzlies team that isn't fully in teardown mode — they still have Ja Morant under contract, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope providing veteran leadership, and Jaylen Wells developing into a reliable two-way wing.
The Ja Morant Wildcard
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The elephant in the room for Memphis is the unresolved Ja Morant situation. Morant's future with the franchise has been a lingering question all season, and the Grizzlies reportedly fielded trade offers ahead of the February deadline but couldn't find an agreeable deal . General manager Zach Kleiman publicly acknowledged that no player on the current roster has solidified themselves as a true franchise cornerstone, a candid admission that signals the organization is still searching for its identity .
That search could end with Boozer. Rather than drafting a guard to replace Morant , which would be the logical move if a trade happens, the Grizzlies could use the No. 3 pick to add a cornerstone big-man talent and then address the guard position via trade or free agency. Boozer's versatility means he can complement virtually any backcourt running mate, making him roster-proof in a way that a one-dimensional scoring guard wouldn't be. Whether Morant stays or goes, Boozer fits .
A Safe Bet With Serious Upside
Critics of Boozer point to his athletic limitations — he lacks elite vertical explosiveness and isn't a projected rim protector, but those concerns are largely overstated for the role he would play in Memphis . He doesn't need to anchor a shot-blocking scheme alongside Edey; he needs to be a multi-dimensional offensive hub who can make his teammates better in a half-court system. On that front, his combination of post skill, perimeter shooting, and passing instincts checks every box .
With the 2026 NBA Draft set for June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the Grizzlies have six weeks to gather information at the combine and finalize their board . But if Peterson goes to Utah at No. 2, the decision shouldn't take long. Boozer is the safest pick in the class, the most proven producer, and quite possibly the most NBA-ready prospect since the top of the 2023 draft. Memphis would be lucky to have him, and after Sunday night's lottery, lucky is exactly what they are.
The ping-pong balls bounced the Memphis Grizzlies' way on Sunday night, and the Grizzlies wasted no time celebrating. After finishing the 2025-26 season with the sixth-worst record in the league and holding just a 9. 4% chance of landing in the top three, Memphis defied the odds and jumped up to the No. 3 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft .