CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 12: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Florida State Seminoles in the first half during the quarterfinals of the men’s ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 12, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

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Anne Erickson

By Anne Erickson

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Cameron Boozer had people talking for months. That kind of attention usually follows the projected No. 1 pick, but Boozer managed to command plenty of it anyway.

Then, the moment came, and the Grizzlies selected him as the No. 3 overall pick. It wasn't a surprise. But it also wasn't a given. So, when it happened, it brought a lot of excitement to the draft.

Now, that excitement is going straight to the Grizzlies. How could they go wrong with this pick, really?

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Cameron Salerno of CBS Sports gives the Grizzlies an A for Boozer.

"The Grizzlies are an organization that values college production," he says. "It makes sense why the franchise made the no-brainer decision to select Boozer, who was the most productive player in the country last season."

Salerno does put a disclaimer on his A grade, though. He notes that the Grizzlies took Karim Lopez at No. 16, who he calls a "raw prospect who will need time to develop at the NBA level."

My Take: Can Cameron Boozer Save Memphis?

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 12: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Florida State Seminoles in the first half during the quarterfinals of the men's ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 12, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

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Boozer already carries himself like a franchise player. That's a lot to put on the shoulders of a 19-year-old, but nobody in Memphis is asking him to fix everything overnight.

What they are asking is for him to make an immediate impact, and there's every reason to think he will. He should slide into the starting lineup without much delay, bringing another scoring threat alongside Zach Edey and giving the Grizzlies a different look offensively.

There's also the simple fact that people are curious about him. Boozer was one of the most talked-about prospects in the draft, and that attention doesn't disappear once the season starts. If he develops the way many expect, he'll do more than help Memphis climb the standings. He'll give people a reason to pay attention to the Grizzlies again.

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