The Memphis Grizzlies are looking to make some noise in the 2026 NBA draft. The Grizzlies are one of five teams that own multiple first-round selections in this year’s draft.
Memphis Grizzlies Are On the Prowl to Move Up in the 2026 NBA Draft
Memphis appears to be in rebuild mode after trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah at February’s trade deadline and continuing to shop Ja Morant. The Griz finished with the league’s sixth-worst record last year at 25-57, marking their fewest wins since 2017-18, as they lost 24 of their last 29. However, the Grizzlies’ lottery numbers came up rosy last month.
As a result, Memphis owns the No. 3 and No. 16 picks. The Grizzlies picked up the 16th selection from Orlando as part of the Desmond Bane trade.
The Griz are expected to select Cam Boozer with the third pick. But, with so much chatter about Washington reportedly considering Darryn Peterson over AJ Dybantsa and Boozer family ties, with his father, Carlos Boozer, to the Jazz, either Peterson or Dybantsa may fall to Memphis.
“The Grizzlies should be thrilled to draft Boozer as the face of their franchise moving forward, and while they have been very tight-lipped as an organization since the lottery, rival teams that have been in contact with Memphis claim the No. 3 pick is off limits,” ClutchPoints Brett Siegel wrote two weeks ago.
While it would be shocking if the Wizards and the Jazz bypassed selecting Dybantsa, the Grizzlies should be overjoyed if he fell in their laps. Now, the Griz may have a more difficult choice if Peterson were the one to drop, though they would likely choose the Kansas guard if he fell in their proverbial lap. However, the Griz will likely be in search of a point guard to replace Morant, and Peterson has made it known he wants to play the one.
As easy as the No. 3 pick will likely be for Memphis — they will take one of the trio of players left — the No. 16 is a different story.
“The same cannot be said about the Grizzlies’ No. 16 pick, which sources say GM Zach Kleiman is attempting to package with other assets to move up in the draft, possibly securing another top-10 pick, Siegel wrote.
Who May Be Included in a Trade Up Move
Siegel expanded on how serious Memphis is about moving up from the No. 16 pick. Siegel said that “the Grizzlies are making virtually all of their players outside of their young core available in trade talks, including 25-year-old big man Santi Aldama”
So, who are the untradeables that Siegel is talking about? It starts with Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, and Jaylen Wells, who appear to be the players Memphis plans to build around. All three are 23-year-olds or younger and have two or fewer seasons of experience. Cam Spencer, GG Jackson Jr., and Walter Clayton Jr. are the next wave, though the Grizzlies would include each one in a splashy deal.
Memphis enters the offseason with 14 players on its roster and plenty of flexibility. The Griz project has $29.5 million in cap space before the draft, though five players have nonguaranteed or team options. Jackson ($2.4 million) will undoubtedly have his club option exercised, and Wells, who has a small guarantee ($300,000), though he isn’t going anywhere.
40-year-old Taj Gibson has a $3.8 million contract, a non-guaranteed deal, and surely won’t be on the roster at the start of the season. More interesting decisions ahead for the Grizzlies will involve Olivier-Maxence Prosper ($2.49 million team option) and Scotty Pippen Jr. ($2.46 million), who has a small guarantee. However, his deal is guaranteed on July 3. Prosper is coming off a career season with 10.5 points on 54.9% shooting from the field and 3.5 rebounds. Meanwhile, Pippen was limited to 10 contests due to injury.
So, that leaves Ty Jerome, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Taylor Hendricks, along with Aldama, Prosper, and Pippen as trade bait. Jerome and Aldama are the most attractive players for any team looking to make a trade. Hendricks, Prosper, and Pippen Jr. also have some trade value.
Who Would Be Willing To Trade Down To No. 16?
The Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5, the Dallas Mavericks at No. 9, and the Golden State Warriors at No. 11 are the three teams mentioned as willing to trade down. Would it make sense for the Brooklyn Nets (No. 6) to trade down, or for the Milwaukee Bucks (No. 10)? The Miami Heat (No. 13) and the Charlotte Hornets (No. 14) may also be possibilities if the Grizzlies want to move up a couple of spots.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are in an interesting position. The Clippers started the season as the oldest team in the NBA, but they did get younger with the trades of Ivica Zubac and James Harden at the trade deadline. The Clippers also have some flexibility with several players on team options, so they could easily go full rebuild if they decided to move on from Kawhi Leonard.
The Clippers have reportedly had discussions with other teams about moving down. It does make sense to consider with their core of Leonard, Bradley Beal, Darius Garland, and likely restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin. Aldama would be an ideal trade target for the Clippers as he would replace unrestricted free agent John Collins at power forward.
So, it wouldn’t be a total stretch for the Clippers to trade down for a veteran, in this scenario, Aldama, and a future first-rounder or two for the No. 5 selection.
Aldama, 25, has two years and $32 million left on his deal, with 2027-28 being a team option. He is a 6-11 stretch four, connector who is a long, versatile defender.
However, Kevin Helin of NBC Sports doesn’t believe the Clippers will move the No. 6 pick. Instead, Helin believes the Clippers will choose either Keaton Wagler or Mikel Brown Jr.
“The Clippers did explore the market for trading their pick, league sources told NBC Sports, and they should as a team be at a crossroads — retool and continue to try to win now around Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland, or start to rebuild to whatever is next. That uncertainty fueled speculation that Lawrence Frank and the front office might trade the No. 5 pick in favor of a win-now player, Helin said.
“Instead, the Clippers are now operating like a team that is going to keep the pick, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line,” Helin continued. “What would it take to get the Clippers to change their mind about that? Multiple first-round picks — especially in outlying years, picks the league can’t take away in any punishment tied to the Aspiration scandal (we’re all still waiting to see how that plays out) — and young players.”
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn was the youngest team in the league last year, at 23.3 years old, with six players 21 or under on their 15-man roster. The Nets could use some frontcourt help and give them a reliable secondary scorer alongside Michael Porter Jr. The Nets could absorb Aldama’s salary into their cap space.
Potential Trade Scenario
Grizzlies Receive:
No. 6 Pick in 2026
Nets Receive:
No. 16 Pick
Santi Aldama
The worst pick of the 2027 selections: Memphis, Utah, Los Angeles Lakers (top-4 protected).
Milwaukee Bucks
Trading down makes sense for the Bucks, whether they trade Giannis Antetokounmpo or keep him. The Bucks need talent, and moving down six spots to get a solid frontcourt player like Aldama makes sense.
Dallas Mavericks
It has been reported that the Mavericks were interested in trading up or down from the ninth spot. The Mavs are committed to building around Cooper Flagg and looking to move several higher-priced veterans — Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Klay Thompson.
Aldama is an ideal frontcourt fit along with Flagg and Dereck Lively II. The 6-11 forward provides the Mavericks with a mobile, skilled, stretch‑4 who can pass, relocate, and defend in space. But, just as important, his weaknesses are disguised by the composition of the Mavs roster.
Dallas has a $20.8 million trade exception from the Anthony Davis trade, so that they can absorb the contracts of Aldama and Pippen.
Potential Trade Scenario
Mavericks Recieve
Sani Aldama
Scotty Pippen Jr.
No. 16 Pick
Grizzlies Recieve
No. 10 Pick
Golden State Warriors
A trade for Aldema is tailor-made for the Warriors. Golden State needs frontcourt help and youth. The Warriors may need a third team to help facilitate the trade, as they don’t have many players and no cap space or trade exceptions (to speak of).
Photo Credit: Petre Thomas, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
