2026-2027 Memphis Grizzlies Season Outlook and Community Predictions
The Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr era is officially over in Memphis, Tennessee. After a 25-57 season, Memphis found themselves with the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, where they selected potential superstar Cameron Boozer. The 19 year old do-it-all forward is coming off a National Player of the Year award season at Duke where he averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2 stocks (steals + blocks) on 55.6% field goal shooting and 39.1% from 3. Boozer joins Zach Edey as the new faces of the franchise with a young roster that has only three players with more than four years of NBA experience (Jerome, Grant, Stewart). As the Grizzlies turn the page toward a new chapter, let’s take a look at what changes have been made and what we need to see from the team this year to feel hopeful heading into this new era.
Franchise and Roster Changes Going Into the Season:
Out -
Ja Morant
Santi Aldama
Kantavious Caldwell-Pope
Lawson Lovering
Ryan Rupert
OrthoSouth - Medical Provider
Eric Oetter - Vice President and head of sports medicine
In -
Cameron Boozer
Jerami Grant
Isaiah Stewart
Quinten Post
Karim López
Kris Murray
Campbell Clinic - Medical Provider
Mike Curtis - Head of health and performance
Three X-Factors for a Successful Season:
1) Will Cameron Boozer look like a future superstar in year one?
Through four preseason games, Cameron Boozer has already proved that he not only belongs in the NBA but that he also may be the best player on the Memphis Grizzlies from day one. In those four preseason games, Boozer averaged 14 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and 3 assists per game on 47/33/83 shooting splits in just 20.3 minutes per game. However, the question is: can Cameron Boozer become the Grizzlies closer at the end of the game and one of the best players in the entire league sooner rather than later?
Only 45 rookies in NBA history have been selected as NBA All-Stars, with the last one being Blake Griffin in 2010-2011 when he averaged 23-12-4. Can Cameron Boozer become the first rookie since Blake Griffin to reach the All-Star game this season? I don’t think it’s impossible. It would probably require a stat line that looks something like 20-9-4 at minimum to replace someone like Chet Holgren or Jalen Duren. If Boozer can reach those type of numbers in his first year and become the go-to scorer in the fourth quarter, the Memphis Grizzlies will most likely find themselves in the play-in at the least and potentially even sneak into the playoffs in the first year of the Cameron Boozer era.
2) How many games will Zach Edey play? What’s his ceiling?
It’s no secret that the Memphis Grizzlies desperately need Zach Edey to stay healthy in order to reach their ceiling as a roster. After receiving surgery on his left ankle and left elbow, Zach Edey was only able to play 11 games last season after playing 66 games in his rookie year. During those 11 games, Edey averaged an impressive 13.6 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game (6th in the NBA), and 1.9 blocks per game (2nd in the NBA) on 63% field goal shooting in just 25.8 minutes per game.
The stats for Zach Edey were impressive in his sophomore season, but when you watch the film, it’s the dominance and strength on the inside on both sides of the court that stands out. That 11 game stretch last season was the first time since Edey was drafted that we saw flashes of the two-time National Player of the Year who dominated college basketball at Purdue. If Zach Edey can build on those 11 games going into this season and stay healthy for at least 60-65 games, we could see him average around 15-10-2 and play himself into the conversation for an All-Star birth. Without upping his scoring to around 17-18 points per game, I don’t think he will reach the All-Star game. But if he can be in the All-Star conversation along with Cameron Boozer, the Memphis Grizzlies will be on the way to having one of if not the best young power forward and center duo in the NBA and, in my opinion, definitely find themselves in the play-in and potentially the playoffs.
3) Strength in numbers? Who will take the next step?
Cedric Coward
Going into game one of the regular season, it’s clear that Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey are the core and faces of the franchise. Based on pure talent and athleticism, Cedric Coward could and should join them as that third piece of the core. In his rookie year, Coward averaged 13.6 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 2.8 assists per game in 25.8 minutes per game while earning a spot on the first team all-rookie. Can Coward build on that first year, become more aggressive as a scorer, and improve on his 33.8% 3P shooting? We saw him be far more aggressive in NBA Summer League, but that didn’t continue in the NBA preseason. Which Cedric Coward will we see this year? He looks the part athletically, he says all the right things, but now it’s time to go out there and establish himself as one of the faces of the franchise.
GG Jackson
GG Jackson has always been one of the favorites among the fanbase as expectations and belief in the now 21 year old Grizzlies forward have always been sky high. Will this be the year for GG Jackson to begin the climb toward his ceiling as a basketball player? There’s room for GG to ascend and establish himself as one of the faces and core players of this franchise. If Cedric Coward can't reach the level of expectations many fans have for him, can GG Jackson snatch his spot in the big three with an incredible season? For GG Jackson to pull that off, it'll take consistent 3P shooting, a consistent increase in his defensive potential, and continued go-to scoring prowess as we’ve seen throughout the first two seasons of his NBA career.
Jaylen Wells
There’s been a lot a talk among the fanbase and local media about who should be the starting shooting guard and small forward for the Memphis Grizzlies going into their new era. For the past two seasons, one of those roles has belonged to Jaylen Wells due to his consistent focus and energy on defense, 3P shooting potential, and consistent availability. Through his first two NBA seasons, Wells has averaged 11.4 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, and 0.7 steals per game on 42.8% field goal shooting and 35.3% shooting from 3. The idea of Jaylen Wells has always been a high level 3 and D starting player in the NBA, but going into year three, I believe Wells will have to step up and increase his rebounds, steals and 3P % per game in order to not only keep his starting role but to earn the type of high money contract he could earn this season with his extension being possible. I’ve always been high on Wells and believe he can achieve those goals, but if he can’t, expectations and his role may need to be adjusted to a high level bench 3 and D player or potential sixth man of the year candidate.
Ty Jerome
The pressure is on for Ty Jerome. Jerome's on a prove it contract and has the opportunity to either establish his role as the starting point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies or another team via trade. We know Ty Jerome can get buckets, but can he run an offense and create for others while not being a negative defensively? Fans have questioned if Jerome can do those things due to his lack of athleticism, but he makes up for that that in basketball IQ and craftiness. I believe Ty Jerome will play well enough to keep his starting job for this season and entice another team to trade for him at the deadline or this offseason. I don’t believe Ty Jerome is the point guard of the future for this era of the Memphis Grizzlies, but he’s more than serviceable for year one of this rebuild.
Scotty Pippen Jr
One of the more underrated storylines going into this season for the Memphis Grizzlies is Scotty Pippen Jr and what exactly he is and can become as a player. The 25 year old guard has been one of the most impactful defenders and shooters on the roster averaging at least 1.7 steals per game and 40% 3P shooting in two out of his three seasons with the Grizzlies. Some people have even made the case for Pippen Jr to have a chance playing with the starting lineup either as point guard or shooting guard, but I believe if Scotty stays on the bench he has a chance to be in the sixth man of the year conversation. If he can increase his average to something along the lines of 15 points per game, 5 assists per game, and 2 steals per game, he will have a great chance to be the first Grizzly to earn sixth man of the year since Mike Miller in the 2005-2006 season.
My 2026-2027 Memphis Grizzlies Season Predictions:
The Memphis Grizzlies will finish the 2026-2027 NBA season with at least 39 wins and earn themselves a spot in the NBA play-in.
Cameron Boozer will average 18 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, and 4 assists per game while winning the Rookie of the Year award.
Zach Edey will play at least 60 games this season.
Cedric Coward, GG Jackson, and Jaylen Wells will all shoot above 37% from 3.
GG Jackson will put it all together and average 15 points per game while becoming a serviceable defender for a Grizzlies team pushing for the playoffs.
Scotty Pippen Jr will end the season in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation.
Pulse of the Community:
Going into the beginning of a new era, I wasn’t sure if the majority of people would be low or high on the Grizzlies, so I thought it would be fun and interesting to ask some fans what their expectations are of the Memphis Grizzlies heading into this season. I ended up asking 34 different fans on Twitter for their regular season record predictions and here’s what everyone had to say:
(Twitter Handle: Memphis Grizzlies 2026-2027 Record Prediction)
@ABigFocus: 34-48
@alleyd81: 30-52
@AbbasBokhari17: 37-45
@_algambino: 37-45
@brandon_nwokeji: 38-44
@BrysonWright3: 39-43
@CAlexander1982: 35-47
@Candaceh901: 37-45
@chriman_: 39-43
@DaOne_PShark: 39-43
@D_E_Z_Z_: 33-49
@duhitskris10: 42-40
@E11Hayes: 40-42
@FirelordLC: 40-42
@GTC901: 34-48
@iamtheman246: 38-44
@Isaac__NBA: 37-45
@ItsShabba12: 51-31
@kgrandberry901: 38-44
@ManeLookPodcast: 37-45
@MRobinsonJRSM: 39-43
@MSavage901: 39-43
@nbamyke: 39-43
@Naquirah: 42-40
@NotSoBasketball: 29-53
@ohokvontae: 43-39
@parkervb901: 38-44
@RockhirsesI: 37-42
@SluggaSports: 38-44
@Snoopfromda901: 36-46
@SpacesGrizzlies: 34-48
@TH0UX4N: 38-44
@ToonGrimey: 45-37
@ZayTimeTakes: 35-47
Combined Average Community Record: 38-44
All things considered, the majority of fans I asked ended up being pretty high on the Grizzlies with the highest number of wins predicted being 51 and the lowest being 29. While there was a huge gap between the highest and lowest win totals, the average prediction ended up being a promising 38-44 record, which would have the Memphis Grizzlies in contention for the final playoff spot, as the Golden State Warriors made the play-in with a record of 37-45 last season. Whether or not the Grizzlies end up in the play-in or just miss it, I’m probably the most excited I’ve been going into the season since Ja Morant’s rookie year in 2019-2020. Let’s hope for a fun and promising 2026-2027 Memphis Grizzlies season.
