Cameron Boozer checks all the boxes in Summer League debut

Boozer wasted no time making an impact. He scored on the Grizzlies' first possession, at first making a selfless play with a pass to small forward Taylor Hendricks after drawing his defender, then taking advantage of being left open under the basket with a layup.

Later in the first quarter, Boozer took on massive 7-foot-3 Thunder rookie center Aday Mara, driving to the paint then gaining separation with a spin before draining the 13-foot turnaround mid-range jumper.

Two possessions later, Boozer extended his range with a 26-foot three, putting the Grizzlies up double digits, 16-6.

Boozer was one of several lauded prospects in the stacked recent NBA Draft, and his Summer League debut provided more glimpses into why evaluators were high on him coming out of Duke.

Among his strengths, NBA.com noted Boozer's "elite feel for the game" while praising his passing, writing it's "what separates him from every other big in this class" and projecting him "as an offensive hub from Day 1."

The son of former NBA power forward Carlos Boozer, he's a natural on the court, and his comfort was instantly on display against the Thunder. While he has a long way to go, Cam has the makings of becoming a franchise cornerstone for the Grizzlies, who traded former lynchpins Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant over the past year.

Nothing about his first Summer League action dispelled that belief. If anything, it should only make Memphis more confident that it made the correct pick.