Grizzlies 2026 NBA Draft grades for every pick

There’s an argument to be made for how the Grizzlies were best-positioned among the big winners of the NBA Draft lottery. As talented as many scouts believe this draft class was, there was a clear top three. And Memphis, being the owner of the third overall pick after a 25-win season, were happy to take whichever one among Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson fell in their lap.

The man who ended up falling to the Grizzlies was Boozer, and there’s an argument to be made that he should have heard his name get called first.

Boozer was a dominant force in his lone season in Duke. The counting stats he put up are eye-popping. Despite facing competition that’s mostly older than him, he put up 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 56/39/79 shooting splits. He was playing like a grown man already, and the ferocity with which he plays is going to translate well to the NBA level.

Boozer is so fluid on offense that Dybantsa and Peterson must be so talented for any team to have passed up on the 6’9″ forward. He is a self-sufficient creator off the dribble, and at his size with his strength, he is going to be a walking mismatch problem.

The 18-year-old forward is already a threatening player in the post, as he has impressive footwork, and his coordination on the offensive end is remarkable for someone as young as he is. And he plays unselfishly that he makes the most out of his court vision, allowing him to make his teammates better.

He might look like a throwback power forward, but he can shoot threes reliably well, hitting 39 percent of his threes on nearly four attempts per contest. With the way he doesn’t shy away from physicality, he should be able to live in the foul line as well, and he’s good enough of a shooter to just accumulate some very efficient points for the Grizzlies.

The catch with Boozer, of course, is that he lives under the rim. He’s not the fast-twitch athlete that Dybantsa is, and this gives some talent evaluators some pause. He has significant vertical and lateral shortcomings that suggest some defensive struggles, especially at the next level.

Boozer was a disruptive presence on defense in college, racking up over a steal per contest, and he tries on that end, which is more than could be said for some other star players in the league. However, he doesn’t project to be an impactful rim protector at all, and that caps his two-way ceiling somewhat.

The good news is that he’ll be lining up alongside Zach Edey, a tall and intimidating presence near the basket. The Grizzlies can also surround Boozer with rangy defenders who can help cover for his shortcomings on that end.

Simply put, Boozer’s offensive potential (he could be a perennial 25-10 threat in the NBA) makes this a no-brainer home run pick for a Memphis team in need of a new star to build around.

Grade: A+

Karim Lopez has all the physical tools to make an impact

Lopez’s measurables must have had scouts salivating all over his potential. He stands at 6’8.25″ barefoot and he has a 6’11 wingspan. He recorded a standing reach of 8’9.5″, and his vertical leap was measured at 38 inches. That alone makes him a good project for the rebuilding Grizzlies to take on.

Boozer’s NBA-readiness and offensive polish must have given the Grizzlies staff some confidence to try and take a chance on someone who’s still a bit raw like Lopez.

Lopez’s offensive game is a work in progress. He shot just 32.6 percent from deep last season with the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL, and that was on three attempts per contest.

His calling card at the moment is his motor, as he is a lively presence on the boards and on defense, and that should help him earn minutes under head coach Tuomas Iisalo.

The swing skill for Lopez is going to be his shooting ability. If he ever figures out how to be more consistent from deep, he’ll be a staple of the Grizzlies rotation for years to come. Even then, his ability to be a disruptor on defense (2.2 stocks last season in the NBL) at just 19 years of age suggests that he could be a force on that end of the floor for years to come.

Grade: B+

Richie Saunders is NBA-ready

Saunders is older than most of his draft peers, as he’ll be 25 years old by the time the 2026-27 season rolls around. That was not enough of a reason for the Grizzlies to hold back on drafting someone who should be a plug and play piece on any lineup.

He projects to be a movement shooter who can make quick decisions, although he also has shown that he can hold his own on defense all while being a disruptive presence on defense. This is a man who knows his role and won’t do too much, and he should be a helpful piece for Memphis from day one.

Grade: B