After missing the playoffs for the second time in four years, the Memphis Grizzlies have officially hit the reset button. At the February trade deadline, the franchise moved Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz and has since continued its rebuild by selecting Cameron Boozer with the third overall pick.
Legion Hoops shared the update on X (formerly Twitter), pointing to Boozer’s arrival in Memphis.
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“BREAKING: The Grizzlies are selecting Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 overall pick,” Legion Hoops captioned the tweet.
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A standout for the Duke Blue Devils during the NCAA Tournament, Boozer entered the draft as one of its most highly touted prospects and was widely expected to be taken early. With an eye on building around Ja Morant, Memphis wasted no time in grabbing the forward, a move that quickly drew strong reactions from fans online.
“Memphis just secured the bag 🔥 Boozer + Ja is SCARY,” a handle wrote.
While many fans were excited about Boozer joining the Grizzlies, others were more skeptical about his fit, with one user suggesting he lacks the skill set to replace Jaren Jackson Jr.
“Grizzles traded Jaren Jackson to draft non defensive Jared Jackson 🤣🤣😭😭😭😭,” a fan wrote.
Though fans remained divided over Boozer joining Memphis, the forward does bring a fresh set of skills to the table. While his defensive work might not reflect that of a former DPOY, he remains a great scorer and rebounder.
In his lone season with Duke, Boozer averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He also contributed defensively, recording 1.6 steals per game.
“Basically my whole life in a couple of seconds”: Cameron Boozer reacts to getting drafted by Memphis
Cameron Boozer is continuing in his father’s footsteps, leaping to the NBA after playing for his alma mater. The forward was taken with the third overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies and shared his honest reaction after stepping off the stage.
“I don’t even know how to describe it, it’s crazy. It’s just happiness, it’s just joy. Basically, my whole life in a couple of seconds,” Boozer said. “It’s our moment as a family, you see us all sitting here … Just a great feeling to be here with them.”
Boozer will hope to make an immediate impact in the NBA similar to his start with the Duke Blue Devils. However, the forward will need to put in work as he joins a Grizzlies team entering a rebuild.
Edited by Arian Kashyap
