Grizzlies keep loading up the rebuild with Duke’s Cameron Boozer at No. 3

The Memphis Grizzlies continued their rebuild on Tuesday night by selecting Duke forward Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft. Boozer, a 6-foot-8 forward listed at 253 pounds, becomes the latest Memphis prospect investment aimed at accelerating the roster’s development timeline.

Boozer’s draft position also carries a clear college-to-pro storyline. He was a Duke player, stepping into a program known for NBA-ready development, and he now joins a Memphis roster that has already leaned heavily on recent draft capital. According to the draft reporting, Boozer will join a core that includes 7-foot-3 center Zach Edey, Memphis’s 2024 No. 9 pick, and forward Cedric Coward, the Grizzlies’ 11th selection from a year ago and an All-NBA rookie team member.

Memphis is, by design, stacking upside. The Boozer selection adds size and scoring potential at a position the modern NBA asks to defend on the perimeter while still creating offense near the rim. Boozer’s name also arrives with inherited basketball pedigree. He is the son of former Duke and NBA player Carlos Boozer, a detail that underscores both the family lineage and the expectation that the young prospect can translate well to higher-level play.

The timing fits a broader pattern for Memphis: rather than filling the roster solely through veterans, the organization has been selecting at the top of the draft in consecutive years and pairing those picks with development opportunities for younger players. The reported lineup of recent selections suggests Memphis is attempting to build a multi-year group that can learn the same systems and expectations together, rather than constantly resetting personnel.

For Boozer, the transition is likely to come with both opportunity and pressure. Going No. 3 places him in the category of players the organization expects to contribute early, even in a rebuild. His first season with the Grizzlies will matter less for whether Memphis makes immediate noise and more for whether Boozer can establish a reliable role alongside the team’s other young frontcourt-building blocks.

What to watch next is how Memphis structures Boozer’s early usage. With the reported presence of Edey and Coward, the Grizzlies’ frontcourt minutes will be a major development lever. If Memphis can pair Boozer’s skill development with consistent court time and clear expectations, the pick could become a foundational piece rather than simply another lottery selection.