Ja Morant is gone. Jaren Jackson Jr. is gone. The Memphis Grizzlies are in full rebuild mode, blowing up the young duo that defined them for seven years. Morant was shipped to Portland, Jackson Jr. to Utah, and with only four players on the roster boasting over three years of NBA experience, you’d think this team was a guaranteed bottom-feeder. But don’t sleep on what’s cooking in Memphis, because their talent could absolutely surprise a lot of people. The Mavs, especially, already know what’s up.
New Blood, New Grind: The Youth Movement
Memphis ain’t stuck on sunk costs, and that’s a good thing for them. They’re all-in on their draft picks from the last few seasons, and they’ve got some serious talent bubbling up. Cameron Boozer from Duke and Cedric Coward are leading the charge for this exciting new core. But keep an eye on guys like Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey too, who have definitely shown promise. This whole 2027 season is gonna be a learning year for these young players and their inexperienced coach, Tuomas Iisalo, but having direction is huge in the NBA. They finished last season at 25-57 and missed the playoffs, so expectations are low, but honestly? That just makes them more dangerous. The Vegas folks have the Over/Under at 30.5 wins, and you know what? We’re taking the over on that.
Dallas Knows: This Squad Is Built Different
If there’s any fanbase that should already be hip to how scrappy these Grizzlies are, it’s Dallas. Maverick fans know this team. Memphis beat the Mavericks three times last season, and every single one of those wins was by double digits. Cedric Coward, Scotty Pippen Jr., Jaylen Wells, and Zach Edey all had big games against Dallas, and now they’re a year better. The Grizzlies stacked up with key additions too, bringing in Cameron Boozer, Quentin Post, Jerami Grant, and Isaiah Stewart. Boozer looks like one of the most NBA-ready skill sets from his draft class and should contribute right away. Plus, getting a seasoned veteran like Jerami Grant, who’s won a lot of games (even if they were meaningless, the source says!), adds some much-needed experience. Isaiah Stewart is gonna inject a percentage of that old grit-and-grind edge back into this squad. This is a high-energy, young group that’s gonna get after it on defense and move the ball on offense.
I’m telling you right now, this scrappy team is not a bottom-feeder in the West. Getting to 35 wins is absolutely not out of the question. Don’t look at their last season’s record; this team is coming for it. We’re locking in that Over 30.5 wins prediction. You’re gonna want to watch these guys surprise some teams this year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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