Grizzlies add another second-generation NBA player with Cameron Boozer

The Memphis Grizzlies were thrilled that the college basketball player of the year fell to them at No. 3 in Tuesday's NBA Draft. Beyond his talent, Cameron Boozer fits the team's tendency to pick up the children of former NBA players.

Boozer had an outstanding freshman season at Duke, which was also the alma mater of his father, Carlos Boozer, who made two All-Star teams in his 13-year career. He may be the key player of the post-Ja Morant Grizzlies.

Cameron Boozer joins another All-Star son

Boozer can talk about being the son of a Chicago Bulls forward with Scotty Pippen Jr., the Grizzlies' backup point guard. He'll replace another second-generation NBA player at power forward, after the Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline.

The newest Grizzly is a skilled scorer who rebounds and passes. But he's also been around the NBA his entire life, something the Grizzlies value, along with players with a high basketball IQ like Boozer. Perhaps that comes from being in a basketball family, like Cam Spencer, brother of Pat Spencer of the Golden State Warriors.

In the past, the Grizzlies have favored players with NBA families. One of the franchise's greatest players was Marc Gasol, the younger brother of Hall of Famer Pau Gasol. Even longtime point guard Mike Conley is the son of a great athlete — not an NBA player, but an Olympic gold medalist in the triple jump.

Cameron Boozer's maturity can lead Memphis Grizzlies rebuild

The Grizzlies traded Jackson and Desmond Bane in the past year, turning the page on a team that twice finished second in the Western Conference but only won a single playoff series. Some of that was due to a lack of maturity among team leaders, whether it was the constant technical foul issues of Dillon Brooks or the repeated off-court legal issues of Morant, who's likely to be traded in the next few weeks or months.

Boozer's NBA pedigree isn't the only reason for his confident leadership, but it certainly doesn't hurt. For a Grizzlies team that's going to rebuild and has succeeded big finding players from NBA families, the Boozer pick is a slam dunk.