Memphis

Grizzlies

Stewart, acquired from the Pistons in late June, played just two minutes on Monday before exiting wth a left ankle injury. The forward/center landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot and did not return. With Zach Edey still out, Quinten Post (eight points, four rebounds and two three-pointers) would have added fantasy value if neither is available when the regular season begins. Post started Monday’s game and logged 12 minutes.

The Grizzlies have ostensibly turned the franchise over to Boozer, the third-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, after moving on from both Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant in separate trades over the last few months. There are zero obstacles standing in the way of Boozer blossoming into a high-volume, all-around impact contributor for redraft leagues during his rookie campaign. There’s enough talent in his supporting cast to envision a scenario where he thrives as a playmaking facilitator that is also capable of attacking the basket with his size and strength. He certainly looked the part with Memphis rolling out nearly their full lineup with the exception of center Zach Edey in their first exhibition contest.

It’s notable that Jerome got the start over Scotty Pippen Jr. during Memphis’ preseason opener and he responded by pouring in 10 first-half points on 4-of-8 shooting as Memphis exploded for 82 points in an impressive opening half. It’s fair to wonder whether Jerome can build off his initial success with the Grizzlies last year when he averaged 19.7 points while shooting over 42 percent from three-point range after finally making his season debut in late January.

Jackson erupted for a team-high 12 first-half points off the bench in the opening half and delivered an extremely efficient shooting performance in his preseason debut. He’s unlikely to be a focal point for the Grizzlies as they build around a Cedric Coward and Ty Jerome backcourt, but he makes sense as an offensive igniter off the bench capable of scoring in bunches and leading the second unit.

Kleiman said Edey could be ready for the start of the regular season. After having season-ending ankle surgery in March, Edey is right where he needs to be in his rehab, according to Kleiman. It doesn’t sound like the 24-year-old center will miss too much time, making Edey a worthwhile selection in the fifth-round of fantasy drafts.

Acquired from the Pelicans in early September, Peavy recently sprained his ankle. According to Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman, it will be “a while” before the team gets to see the 2025 second-round pick on the court. Peavy’s absence won’t affect fantasy basketball, but it does mean one less wing competing for rotation minutes when camp opens.

The 40th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Peavy averaged 15.0 minutes per game across 61 appearances for the Pelicans as a rookie. He averaged 4.3 points per game in those appearances, shooting 38.5 percent from the field. With the Grizzlies rebuilding, there may be opportunities for Peavy to contribute, but he’s unlikely to be a consistent actor in fantasy basketball next season.

The 14th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Hawkins couldn’t carve out a consistent role for himself over three seasons with the Pelicans. The 2024-25 campaign was his most productive, with the 6-foot-5 guard averaging 10.8 points per game. However, Hawkins couldn’t build on that output, averaging 5.1 points per game last season and falling further down the pecking order in the backcourt. A move to Memphis gives Hawkins a fresh start, but it is unlikely to do much for his short-term fantasy value.

Less than 24 hours after it was reported that Caldwell-Pope and the Grizzlies were negotiating a contract buyout, the veteran wing has been waived. Unless another team decides to file a claim, KCP will be headed to Philadelphia on a one-year, $3.9 million deal. Caldwell-Pope appeared in a career-low 51 games last season, as a finger injury ended his 2025-26 campaign just after the All-Star break. He can provide three-point shooting and wing defense in Philadelphia, but KCP is unlikely to be in a position where fantasy managers can rely on him for value.

The report comes after LeBron James’ decision to sign with the 76ers as a free agent. With Caldwell-Pope potentially heading to Philadelphia after being bought out of Memphis, he’d team up with James, with whom he won an NBA championship back in 2020. The 13-year veteran averaged 8.4 points and shot just 31.6 percent from beyond the arc last season in Memphis.