Identifying Memphis’ Most Promising Young Player

It has been a challenging season for the Memphis Grizzlies, but it has also created an opportunity for several young players to step into bigger roles. With injuries and roster changes throughout the year, Memphis has been forced to rely on its youth more than expected, giving fans a glimpse at what the future of the franchise could look like. Players like GG Jackson, Jaylen Wells, and Scotty Pippen Jr. have all had moments that suggest they could become important pieces moving forward. With the team continuing to develop its young core, we asked our writers: Which young Grizzlies player has shown the most promise for the team’s future?

Matt Hanifan

Cedric Coward: The player who has shown the most promise, in my opinion, is Cedric Coward. The 6-foot-6 wing was coming off an injury-plagued collegiate season at Washington State, where he missed all but six games with a torn labrum. There were still questions about how he’d fare against high-level competition entering his junior season, and the No. 11 overall draft choice has silenced any-and-all of those concerns through his rookie season. The two-way wing is averaging 13.3 points and 6.1 rebounds and, at the very least, I expect his 3-point shooting (34.3 percent) to only improve as his career ages.