Full Breakdown
Memphis Grizzlies Poised for Triple Top-35 Selections in 2026 NBA Draft
6/9/2026, 12:35:00 AM
Draft Position and Timeline
The 2026 NBA Draft will be held June 23-24, 2026 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Memphis Grizzlies entered the lottery with three first-round selections—No. 3, No. 16 and No. 32—making them the only franchise with three picks inside the top 35.
Primary Prospect at No. 3: Cameron Boozer
Duke forward Cameron Boozer is the overwhelming favorite to land in Memphis at No. 3. Yahoo, Bleacher Report, Heavy.com and The Athletic all project the Grizzlies selecting Boozer, citing his 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 55.6 % field-goal shooting and 39.1 % three-point shooting in his final college season. Analysts describe him as the best player in the draft and a potential long-term solution at power forward. A minority of mock drafts, notably CBS Sports, link Kansas guard Darryn Peterson—projected as a top-two guard—to Memphis, creating a competing projection for the No. 3 slot.
No. 16 Slot: Multiple Viable Targets
Memphis may retain its No. 16 pick or trade it for additional assets, a pattern seen in previous drafts. Mock drafts associate the slot with several players: Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie (Yahoo, Bleacher Report), Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr., Texas Tech point guard Christian Anderson (both cited by the Commercial Appeal), and Baylor wing Cameron Carr, who received recent buzz but was selected just ahead of Memphis in several projections. The Athletic’s two-round list specifically assigns Christian Anderson Jr., Guard – Texas Tech, to the No. 16 pick, underscoring the lack of consensus.
Early Second-Round Outlook at No. 32
The depth of the 2026 draft class is perceived to have declined after several prospects returned to school, a factor that could benefit Memphis in the second round. Analysts highlight experienced big men as likely options: North Carolina 7-foot center Henri Veesaar (projected at No. 35) and UConn 6-11 center Tarris Reed Jr. are both mentioned as potential targets. The Athletic’s second-round projection, however, lists forward Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s, at No. 32. Memphis already fields starting center Zach Edey, but frontcourt depth remains a priority.
Strategic Implications for the Grizzlies
Securing Boozer would address a long-term need at power forward and add a versatile scorer and rebounder. A guard selected at No. 16 could enhance backcourt depth and provide perimeter versatility, a quality highlighted in the Peterson projection. Adding a physical center or forward in the early second round would give immediate depth behind Edey and could be used as a trade lever if Memphis decides to move up for a high-upside wing. The team’s flexibility in the draft reflects its broader roster-building approach.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Mock drafts diverge on the No. 3 selection, with most favoring Boozer while CBS Sports links Peterson to Memphis. The No. 16 slot is attributed to at least four different players across sources, and the No. 32 pick is variously assigned to Veesaar, Reed Jr. and Ejiofor. The lack of a definitive roster announcement leaves the final draft strategy uncertain.
