Grizzlies hit Las Vegas Summer League facing lofty expectations

On that note, it remains to be seen just how much Coward will play for the Grizzlies after an exceptional rookie season where he averaged 13.6 points and 5.9 rebounds, starting 47 of 62 games. 

Coward drew comparisons to a young Kawhi Leonard and is being viewed as a core piece Memphis is building around, so exposing him to more than two games in this event would be surprising since he already suited up for a couple of games in the Salt Lake City Summer League that ran from July 4-7. He scored a team-high 23 points in a 109-100 loss in which Peterson shined with 25 points and 12 assists.

Because Coward could be pulled after a game or two in Vegas, Boozer is likely the better option to back in the Summer League MVP race, which will also prominently feature top pick A.J. Dybantsa of the Wizards, whose odds have also been set at +1500. Washington will debut against Utah on the event’s opening night at 9 p.m. ET in a game being billed as a meeting between the top picks in this much heralded draft. 

Boozer won’t play until Friday (July 10), which should work to motivate him since he considered himself the top prospect and will get an extra day to get acclimated to a unique environment out in the desert. Memphis’ first game will be against Chicago, which will be led by Boozer’s Tobacco Road rival and good friend, UNC product Caleb Wilson. 

Memphis’ other games are going to be against Cooper Flagg-less Dallas, Golden State and Atlanta before the knockout round begins. Action will be televised on Prime and the ESPN family of networks.