The 2026-27 NBA season is here! Check out our team previews, including power rankings, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy advice.
Record: 25-57 (13th in the West, did not make the playoffs)
Draft: Cameron Boozer (No. 3), Karim López (No. 21), Richie Saunders (No. 32)
Trades: Isaiah Stewart (from Pistons), Jerami Grant (from Trail Blazers), Kris Murray (from Trail Blazers), AJ Johnson (from Mavericks), D’Angelo Russell (from Wizards)
Key departures: Ja Morant (traded to Trail Blazers), Santi Aldama (traded to Mavericks), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (via buyout)
What’s exciting: The Grizzlies have one of the best young cores in basketball with Boozer joining Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, and Cam Spencer — among a long list of other talented players still on rookie-scale deals. The beauty of Boozer is he can fit with just about anyone. He can move a defender with his strength, beat him with footwork, knock down a 3 or run a pick-and-roll and fire a pass across the court. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo can use him to initiate the offense, screen for a teammate or space the floor around Edey. Memphis has plenty of young talent, and Boozer could help bring out the best in all of it.
What’s concerning: Can Edey stay healthy long enough to anchor this defense? He played only 11 games last season and has undergone two surgeries on his left ankle. Foot injuries are scary for any player but especially for a center who is 7-foot-3 and weighs over 300 pounds. Last season, the Grizzlies had a 98.8 defensive rating with him and 121.2 without him, per DataBallr. Edey’s size can discourage drives, force difficult finishes and end possessions with defensive rebounds. If he’s on the floor, the Grizzlies could end up competing for the playoffs. Without him, they could be fighting to stay out of the relegation zone. — Kevin O’Connor
Cam Boozer looks like a beast: the ROY frontrunner has zero obstacles to volume. The passing, sneaky steals, poise and early usage (24%) make him a worthy mid-round pick. The positive Ty Jerome buzz continues. He’s a steal relative to ADP. — Dan Titus
Opening week: 10/21 vs. Jazz, 10/23 at Warriors
I’m a couple of weeks away from “having” to finalize my preseason predictions, but I am very close to flat-out having the Grizzlies as a play-in team. I believe in the offensive versatility and the overall depth. They just have to stay healthy and hit enough of the right notes defensively — this is where the Edey steps from last year feel important to me — to have a high-enough baseline.
Worst case CASE: Bottom of the West
This could be as simple as the top-end talent not being good enough compared to the rest of the playoff contenders in the West, them missing Jaren Jackson Jr. a lot defensively, and teams playing conservative coverages and the Grizzlies not dinging them enough for it to matter. — Nekias Duncan
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