Memphis Grizzlies NBA Summer League Preview: The Beginning of a New Era
2026 Memphis Grizzlies NBA Summer League Roster:
NBA Salt Lake City Summer League Schedule:
Saturday July 4th: Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder at 2PM CT - Jon M. Huntsman Center (ESPNU, Prime Video)
Monday July 6th: Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz at 8PM CT - Jon M. Huntsman Center (ESPN, Prime Video)
Tuesday July 7th: Memphis Grizzlies vs Atlanta Hawks at 6PM CT - Jon M. Huntsman Center (ESPNU, NBATV, Prime Video)
NBA Las Vegas Summer League Schedule:
Friday July 10th: Memphis Grizzlies vs Chicago Bulls at 7PM CT - Thomas & Mack Center (Prime Video)
Monday July 13th: Memphis Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks at 6PM CT - Thomas & Mack Center (ESPN)
Tuesday July 14th: Memphis Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors at 6PM CT - Thomas & Mack Center (ESPN)
Thursday July 15th: Memphis Grizzlies vs Atlanta Hawks 7PM CT - Thomas & Mack Center (Prime Video)
The Elephant (Or Jaraffe?) in the Room
On June 29th, 2026, the Memphis Grizzlies traded Ja Morant and $1,000,000 in cash to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. Ja Morant gets a fresh start in Portland, right next to the Nike Headquarters, as the Grizzlies also turn the page looking forward to Grant, a 32-year-old forward who averaged 18.6 points per game on 45% field goal shooting and 39% three point shooting on a playoff team. I wish Ja Morant nothing but the best in Portland and will never forget the countless memories and highlights he provided us throughout the years. As I wrote in my article on the trade, it may have never been a parade in Memphis, Tennessee, but it was one hell of a ride the city and fans across the globe will always be grateful for and never forget.
(Click here to read more of my thoughts on the Ja Morant trade)
The Ja Morant trade relieves the tension around the lingering situation surrounding the constant trade rumors, allowing fans and the young players on the roster to fully flip the page and look toward NBA Summer League.
The Memphis Grizzlies will head to Salt Lake City, Utah for their annual Salt Lake City NBA Summer League games ahead of the bigger Las Vegas NBA Summer League. I’ve always loved that the Grizzlies participate in this as it allows fans and coaches to get an extended look at the young and developing talent on the roster. Going into this summer league, fans will be excited for extra opportunities to watch new #3 and #16 picks Cameron Boozer and Karim López. The new draft picks will get the chance to take the floor for the first time with new teammates Cedric Coward, Javon Small, and Walter Clayton Jr as they’re expected to participate in summer league as well, per Damichael Cole of the Commercial Appeal.
Will Cameron Boozer Live Up to Expectations?
The Memphis Grizzlies will look and feel quite different as they hand the keys to the franchise over to 18-year-old 3rd overall pick Cameron Boozer. The Ja Morant era brought a lot of flash and flare, but the Boozer era may look a bit different. Boozer carries himself in a more quiet and stoic “lead by example” kind of way, a potentially refreshing personality after an era of a Grizzlies basketball that was filled with claims we couldn’t back.
In an earlier article, I wrote about how the Memphis Grizzlies would soon be drafting the most talented player in franchise history. As were just three days away from watching Cameron Boozer’s Memphis Grizzlies debut, Boozer is one of the most statistically dominant college and high school players ever. His offensive creation profile is that of a guard, except he’s a 6’8 250 pound power forward. The possibilities are endless in terms of how you can use Cameron Boozer offensively, explaining why Tuomas Iisalo was nothing but smiles during Boozer’s introductory press conference.
Cameron Boozer has simply won at every level he’s played at, so it’s hard to imagine him not continuing that success he’s had his entire basketball career. However, Boozer will have to prove he’s a winner in the NBA and that his game will translate starting with NBA Salt Lake City Summer League.
What I’ll be watching for in regards to Boozer:
How does Boozer look size-wise on an NBA floor? Can he still consistently bully people? Will he be a walking 20-10 in NBA Summer League?
When you draft a future NBA superstar, it becomes clear early on in their rookie season that they’re a special player. Will we see how special Boozer is right away?
Can we unlock Boozer even more as a playmaking hub/ball handler?
What impression will Karim López leave on Grizzlies fans?
As the saying goes, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”. For Memphis Grizzlies 21st overall pick, the first impression will matter more as most fans haven’t had the chance to watch much of López while playing in the NBL.
Karim Lopez has been playing professional basketball since he was 14 years old, when he was recruited from Mexico to play in Spain. Despite this, the constant narrative around him is, “is he too much of a project”? How quickly will Karim Lopez put it together and prove to Grizzlies fans why he was the right pick?
I believe NBA Summer League will be the perfect place for him to display some of the ways he will immediately impact the Grizzlies early on in his career. Karim López will take some time to develop his half court defense, isolation game, and ball handle. However, I think Karim can provide good transition offense and defense with his length and athleticism, above average rebounding but more specifically offensive rebounding, and high basketball IQ leading to great off-ball cuts while in half court offense.
While the questions around Karim Lopez are reasonable, I think after Summer League is done, fans will be far more excited about the future and potential of the first ever Mexican-born first round pick in NBA history.
What I’ll be watching for:
Perimeter/half court defense and lateral quickness. Can he make up for it with length, size, and IQ?
Consistent off-ball three point shooting.
Transition offense/defense. Could this be an easy way for Karim to impact the game early on in his career?
How does Karim’s athleticism look in NBA Summer League compared to NBL?
Cedric Coward second year leap? How does he mesh with Cameron Boozer?
Cedric Coward had a fantastic rookie year, having averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, despite the team having yet another injury-riddled season filled with drama. The players we went into the season hoping to rely only on were once again unreliable, forcing Cedric Coward to have an increased role and expectations. It felt like Cedric Coward was going to need to become a #1 option in order to take the keys to franchise with Ja Morant’s inevitable departure looming last season. However, fast forward to the Grizzlies getting lucky in the NBA lottery, and Memphis is now expected to hand the keys to the franchise to 3rd overall pick and all-around superstar Cameron Boozer.
With Boozer, Edey, and Coward as the major franchise cornerstones, there’s a pathway for Cedric Coward to fill in as the 2nd or 3rd option offensively that fills in the gaps and ties the starting unit together. Coward would star in that role, similarly to an OG Anunoby. Whether it be his relentless rebounding, off-ball shooting potential, or his ability to get timely blocks when rotating from the weak side, Cedric Coward is already a great basketball player. The question is, can he become an all-star caliber player and scorer?
What I’ll be watching for:
Consistent three point shooting. At times Coward seemed like a lights out shooter.
More steals, deflections, and disruptive on ball defense utilizing his length.
Improved and tighter ball handle.
Continued passing development.
Other players to focus on during Summer League:
Javon Small vs Walter Clayton Jr: Who wins the battle for a spot on the roster? My vote is for Javon Small.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper & Taylor Hendricks: Omax and Hendricks played some of the best basketball of his young career after getting traded to the Memphis Grizzlies last season. Can he continue to progress?
Carson Cooper: Can he be an impactful center and add to our depth in the front court?
Zach Cleveland: The highlights are fun but can he be impactful consistently? Juiced up John Konchar role?
Jahmai Mashack: The defense has been great since day one. The question for Mashack is, can he continue to develop his three point jump shot and become a reliable offensive option off the ball?
