Memphis Grizzlies season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27

The 2026-27 NBA season is here! Check out our team previews, including power rankings, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy advice.

East:Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards

West:Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • LA Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz

Record: 25-57 (13th in the West, did not make the playoffs)

Draft:Cameron Boozer (No. 3), Karim López (No. 21), Richie Saunders (No. 32)

Trades: Isaiah Stewart (from Pistons), Jerami Grant (from Trail Blazers), Kris Murray (from Trail Blazers), AJ Johnson (from Mavericks), D'Angelo Russell (from Wizards)

Key departures:Ja Morant (traded to Trail Blazers), Santi Aldama (traded to Mavericks), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (via buyout)

Current roster

What's exciting: The Grizzlies have one of the best young cores in basketball with Boozer joining Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, and Cam Spencer — among a long list of other talented players still on rookie-scale deals. The beauty of Boozer is he can fit with just about anyone. He can move a defender with his strength, beat him with footwork, knock down a 3 or run a pick-and-roll and fire a pass across the court. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo can use him to initiate the offense, screen for a teammate or space the floor around Edey. Memphis has plenty of young talent, and Boozer could help bring out the best in all of it.

What's concerning: Can Edey stay healthy long enough to anchor this defense? He played only 11 games last season and has undergone two surgeries on his left ankle. Foot injuries are scary for any player but especially for a center who is 7-foot-3 and weighs over 300 pounds. Last season, the Grizzlies had a 98.8 defensive rating with him and 121.2 without him, per DataBallr. Edey's size can discourage drives, force difficult finishes and end possessions with defensive rebounds. If he's on the floor, the Grizzlies could end up competing for the playoffs. Without him, they could be fighting to stay out of the relegation zone. — Kevin O'Connor 

Preseason Power Rankings: How all 30 teams stack up ahead of 2026-27

Cam Boozer looks like a beast: the ROY frontrunner has zero obstacles to volume. The passing, sneaky steals, poise and early usage (24%) make him a worthy mid-round pick. The positive Ty Jerome buzz continues. He's a steal relative to ADP. — Dan Titus

Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season

Opening week: 10/21 vs. Jazz, 10/23 at Warriors

Complete schedule

29.5 — win total

+30000 to win division

+75000 to win NBA Finals

Best case: Play-In Tournament

I'm a couple of weeks away from "having" to finalize my preseason predictions, but I am very close to flat-out having the Grizzlies as a play-in team. I believe in the offensive versatility and the overall depth. They just have to stay healthy and hit enough of the right notes defensively — this is where the Edey steps from last year feel important to me — to have a high-enough baseline.

Worst case CASE: Bottom of the West

This could be as simple as the top-end talent not being good enough compared to the rest of the playoff contenders in the West, them missing Jaren Jackson Jr. a lot defensively, and teams playing conservative coverages and the Grizzlies not dinging them enough for it to matter. — Nekias Duncan

Read the full Southwest Division preview