Cameron Boozer isn’t lacking in self-belief as he prepares to take his first steps into the NBA. Just days after going third overall in the draft, he’s already speaking with conviction about what the Memphis Grizzlies are capable of.
He’s arriving in Memphis with a winner’s mentality and no patience for a drawn-out rebuilding process. In his view, the Grizzlies are poised to outperform what outsiders expect.
“I think we’re going to catch a lot of people off guard this year,” Boozer told The Chris Vernon Show. “I think we’re going to be better than anyone realizes. I don’t think people fully grasp it, because obviously there’s been a rebuilding label attached, but when you look at the pieces we have and the additions we’ve made, I think we’re building something pretty special here.”
Cameron Boozer thinks the Grizzlies will ‘surprise’ a lot of people this season
His confidence comes from a simple place he’s won at every stop along the way. Sure, the NBA is a different challenge entirely, but Boozer fully expects his presence alone to make Memphis competitive from day one.
And there’s a real path to early returns.
Putting Boozer alongside Zach Edey, the two-time National Player of the Year from Purdue, gives the Grizzlies a front line that will cause immediate matchup headaches. Second-year wing Cedric Coward could take another step forward and emerge as one of the more reliable two-way players out West.
Ty Jerome made a major leap last year, putting up close to 20 points a night. Young guard Walter Clayton Jr. came over in the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade with Utah and adds another intriguing piece. Memphis could become a fascinating team to watch in a hurry next season.
A lot may hinge on whether they can move troubled guard Ja Morant, whose value has dipped considerably from its peak. There’s growing chatter that Memphis could finalize a Morant deal as early as this week, which would let them turn the page completely on that chapter and usher in a new one centered around Boozer and a compelling core of young talent.
The Grizzlies probably aren’t instant title threats in the West just because Boozer showed up, but that kind of trajectory is ahead. Still, don’t be shocked if Memphis pushes for a playoff spot right out of the gate next year.
Boozer did give everyone a heads-up.
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