To call the Memphis Grizzlies a wild card for the 2026-27 NBA season might be an understatement.
Memphis revamped its roster, with many of the players who were among the team’s longest-tenured veterans at the start of last season now gone. A new-look rosterfeaturing only three players with more than four years of NBA experience will be tasked with showing improvement after the Grizzlies finished 25-57 last season.
Tuomas Iisalo is also relatively new to his role, entering his second full season as coach. This roster should be better equipped to execute his system after injuries and depth issues limited Memphis last season.
The Grizzlies open the season against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 21 (7 p.m. CT, DAZN-MEM) at FedExForum, beginning an 82-game journey
expected to feature plenty of unpredictability.
The roster changes make it difficult to project what Memphis will look like over the course of the season. However, the preseason and flashes from last season have offered some clues about the team’s potential strengths and weaknesses.
Potential strengths: Rebounding, 3-point shooting, depth
Grizzlies wing Cedric Coward answered confidently when asked whether a starting trio of himself, center Zach Edey and rookie forward Cam Boozer could rank among the NBA’s best rebounding groups.
"We should be," he said.
Coward and Edey have shown encouraging signs on the glass early in their careers, while Boozer enters the NBA with expectations of making an immediate impact as a rebounder. If all three deliver, Memphis could establish a physical identity built around controlling the boards.
The Grizzlies also have the potential to improve their 3-point shooting. Shooting woes plagued Memphis during its previous era, when Desmond Bane was often the only player in the starting lineup who consistently commanded respect from the 3-point line.
Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Cam Spencer, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Quinten Post, Jerami Grant and Javon Small have all recorded NBA seasons in which they shot better than 40% from 3-point range. Coward, Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson are among the other potential rotation players capable of shooting at or above the league average.
Depth was another concern last season, when Iisalo faced criticism for relying on a deep rotation that struggled to produce consistent results. Memphis now has the potential to build a more productive second unit featuring veterans such as Grant and Isaiah Stewart alongside Jackson, Pippen and Spencer. Several players in that group have starting experience, giving Iisalo options as he experiments with lineups.
Potential weaknesses: Shot creation, youth, perimeter defense
One of Memphis’ biggest challenges will be replacing the shot creation it lost after trading Ja Morantand Jaren Jackson Jr. Morant wasn’t always an efficient isolation scorer, but he repeatedly showed an ability to create opportunities for himself in critical moments. Jackson also developed into a reliable option when the Grizzlies needed individual scoring.
Replacing that production won’t be easy. Memphis will need multiple players to help fill the void. This issue could potentially show up late in games when most teams rely on their best scorers to hunt mismatches.
Youth is a factor in that equation. Boozer, Coward and GG Jackson could emerge as players capable of taking on larger scoring responsibilities in crucial moments. Jerome could also become a go-to option. However, the Grizzlies have limited experience among their potential closers. Jackson is 21 and entering his fourth season, Boozer is 19 and Coward is 23 entering his second season. Inexperience makes it difficult to predict who will step up when games are on the line.
Perimeter defense is another concern. Memphis kept Kris Murray after he entered training camp as a long shot to make the roster. His defensive ability helped strengthen his case.
Pippen and Wells should provide quality perimeter defense, but the Grizzlies lack proven depth in that area. Memphis will be counting on players such as Jackson and Coward to make strides defensively as they take on larger roles.
Key transaction to watch: The NBA trade deadline
Projecting where Memphis will finish is difficult, in part because the Grizzlies could become sellers at the NBA trade deadline if they fall out of the postseason picture.
Jerome and Grant could attract interest from contending teams seeking reinforcements for a playoff run. Both could become valuable veteran trade assets if Memphis decides to prioritize its long-term future over a push for the NBA playoffs.
Jerome, however,figures to be a key piece of the Grizzlies’ current plans.
How the Grizzlies approach the trade deadline will depend largely on their performance over the first half of the season. If the young roster develops quickly and Memphis remains competitive, the team could stay the course. If the growing pains prove too significant, the Grizzlies may have to consider whether moving veteran pieces would better serve their long-term goals.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Grizzlies' strengths, weaknesses ahead of 2026-27 NBA season, including Cam Boozer
