The Memphis Grizzlies have the 3rd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Whoever the Grizzlies pick here will be the face of the franchise — no question about it. Given the magnitude and depth of this class, especially at the top, it’s critical for this outcome to take place. With that, fit and upside will be topics of debate when assessing who the Grizzlies pick here. All of the potential prospects available are strong upside plays, and the extent of it can be argued. While Cedric Coward and Zach Edey are pillars for this next iteration, the fit is around whoever the Grizzlies pick at 3.
From early musings, it seems like the Grizzlies will have at least two of Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson on the board. AJ Dybantsa will likely be with the Washington Wizards or Utah Jazz.
The Grizzlies also have the 16th pick. Between this pick and their asset pool, they can add another key contributor in this draft — whether it’s from that given selection, or from trading up into the draft.
Given the aforementioned statement of building around the third pick, what are some of the best, most intriguing prospect combinations the Grizzlies can walk away with in this draft?
I’m going to start this topic in a two-piece mini-series. First: Darryn Peterson.
Whether it’s a trade-up from the 16th pick, or with the 16th pick, who are some players that would pair nicely with Darryn Peterson?
Morez Johnson would be the best pairing with Peterson, out of the players in the 16 range, due to what he provides on both sides of the ball.
Defensively is what’s most enamoring. He possesses versatility to encompass different roles. He can defend out in space and take on perimeter-centric assignments, which bodes well for switching. He can function as a rim-roaming big next to a drop big, but also in that center-field coverage.
When assessing building a team around Peterson, I’m thinking of the pressure and chaos creation that can be formulated defensively. Even with the cramping and the minutes restrictions, Peterson generated a Hakeem Rate (the sum of block and steal rate) of 5.3, which was in the 93rd percentile — per CBB Analytics. The Grizzlies would have an infrastructure with Peterson’s defensive tools (length, anticipation, athleticism), Coward’s defensive versatility, Wells’ point-of-attack defense, and Edey’s anchor defense. What could be next? A forward that can wreak havoc and assume different roles to apply pressure on a defense.
That’s Morez Johnson.
Offensively, it can get clunky. While he’ll function as a third big in the early going, his perimeter game has to grow to see high-leverage minutes next to Edey. However, his athleticism would pair well with Peterson in transition and off cutting/rolling situations.
If the Grizzlies walk out of the draft with Peterson and Johnson, it’s a home-run draft.
Allen Graves is still on the fence, as he’s left the possibility of going back to school on the table. Per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Graves would prefer to stay in the draft if he were a first-round pick.
Graves’ fit defensively feels relatively similar to Johnson — emphasis on chaos creation. Graves doesn’t capture the same sort of mobility in space to take on the different roles and assignments. However, his anticipation and nose for the ball are next-level — finishing with a block rate of 5.0 and steal rate of 4.9.
His offensive fit with Peterson is fascinating due to his ability to connect and finish plays. With his playmaking and processing, he allows for Peterson to function off the ball, where he’s frankly the deadliest — the best off-ball scorer in the class. Tuomas Iisalo can get creative with actions to get Peterson clean looks with the ball in Graves’ hands. Also, Graves would be another floor-spacer to give Peterson room to operate, as he shot 40.7 percent from three on 6.7 attempts per 100 possessions.
Graves has athletic and conditioning elements to work on, but his two-way processing and playmaking would make for a marvelous fit alongside Peterson.
16 may be ambitious for Allen, but I’m also higher on him than most of the consensus, so I’d have him as an option here. He’s a better shooter than given credit for. He was a 39.8 percent three-point shooter up until he connected on just 2 of his last 25 three-point attempts through the final 7 games of the season. Obviously, teams want to see how real the shooting is, but he has the tools to bet on. Although he’s not 6’8” as previously listed, he’s 6’5 1/4” barefoot — so let’s say roughly 6’6” in shoes — which is still a fine size for a wing. The main qualm is his length (6’8” wingspan and 8’3 1/2” standing reach).
Back to the tools though.
Allen is a legitimate dribble-pass-shoot wing. He’s just as comfortable with his left hand as his right. He can initiate actions. When getting downhill, he can make advanced live-dribble reads — both for his age and size. Adding this type of player fits in Iisalo’s system that creates a lot of variability with its pick-and-roll actions, and could add a layer of potency to Peterson’s off-ball scoring.
Defensively, Allen adds more value in the possessions game than on-ball defense. Although he’s not a slouch as an on-ball defender, he won’t be tasked as a stopper. He creates defensive events (2.2 block rate, 2.0 steal rate), and he crashes the glass (6.9 rebounds per game). These traits should enable transition offense to get Peterson and the Grizzlies attacking in the open floor.
Arguably the case for any team, dribble-pass-shoot-rebound players with solid size are nice to have in today’s NBA.
Karim Lopez may be more of a wild card here, and I’m not sure he may make it to 16.
Offensively, the main concern is with the sustainability of his jumper. If the jumper isn’t a threat, there’s a ceiling to his role. Maybe it’s as a rotation player, but is he someone that’s squeezed out in high-leverage situations? He does offer utility with his scalability, the ability to fit seamlessly into a role. He’s not the quickest forward, but he puts pressure on the rim as a driver, ramming his way to the basket and relishing physicality.
Defensively, he has a bit to go with his processing off the ball in rotation. However, he’s a big, physical forward that can create defensive events. In addition, he can parlay his physicality into being more of a stopper. He crashes the glass well, and he leverages rebounds into grab-and-go offense.
Lopez’s fit with Peterson is leveling up on size, physicality, and open-floor athleticism. He has a ways to go to full connectivity and with his jumper. However, the Grizzlies can develop a positional size advantage, especially if Peterson becomes a primary.
Steinbach makes for a murky Grizzlies fit in general due to his foot speed. Can he space the floor enough alongside Edey? Can he guard 4’s? Can “speed kills” work with a frontcourt centered around Steinbach and Edey?
All are solid questions. Frankly, they can still roll with Santi Aldama at the 4, and have Steinbach be the 3rd big off the bench.
The fit with Peterson is just too tantalizing.
The rebounding is a massive advantage to generate extra possessions and quick transition offense. His feel is underrated, as his screening and passing can make for a good two-man game. He’s a solid play-finisher as well.
While the overall fit may be murky, Steinbach and Peterson would be an awesome stack of talent to come out with in this draft.
So just recapping the elements we’ve talked about:
Two-way versatility
Chaos creation
Open-floor athleticism
Positional size
Rebounding
Outside shooting
Playmaking
Yaxel Lendeborg checks all of these boxes. Drafting Lendeborg with Peterson gives the Grizzlies a potential Swiss-Army knife that can space the floor, make live-dribble reads, take on different roles defensively, and add value in the possessions game.
Lendeborg will mostly slot at the 4, but he can also slide down to the 3. That could become an advantage if Peterson develops into a point guard.
Too many advantages open up with Peterson and Lendeborg. However, trade-up partners are challenging to identify.
I know people will have skepticism around Darryn Peterson because of his season at Kansas.
The talent is worth it.
He’s a legitimate multi-faceted scorer that can let it rip from three, pop a shot in the mid-range, and get to the free-throw line. His playmaking chops may be better than what was advertised at Washington. He doesn’t sacrifice much defensively, as he applies pressure on and off the ball.
If the Wizards and Jazz take AJ Dybantsa and Cam Boozer 1-2 — whatever order — then Peterson’s talent would be hard to pass up.
When assessing to build around Peterson, they should use later picks to identify frontcourt help and versatility. While you want the ball in Peterson’s hands, they could also use the 16th pick to find playmakers that can weaponize Peterson’s off-ball scoring.
Nonetheless, building around Peterson would make for a fun exercise given his creation, athleticism, and positional size.
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