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By Anne Erickson
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If there's one team super poised for the future in the NBA, it has to be the Memphis Grizzlies. This team isn't trying to hold onto the past anymore. After several seasons of change, this offseason finally felt like the moment the organization fully turned the page.
The new chapter starts with youngster Cameron Boozer. Selected with the No. 3 overall pick, Boozer immediately becomes the centerpiece of Memphis' rebuild. He's the dude fans will be watching from the opening night of the season. Every rebuilding team needs someone to rally around, and the Grizzlies are hoping Boozer develops into exactly that kind of franchise cornerstone.
There won't be any shortage of opportunities for him, too. General manager Zach Kleiman made it clear after the trade deadline that he believed Memphis could rebuild quickly, and the moves this summer backed that up. Rather than looking for short-term success, the Grizzlies continued investing in young talent and gave themselves a roster that can grow together.
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Boozer joins a young core that includes Cedric Coward and Zach Edey, who is expected to return after an ankle injury limited him to just 11 games last season. Getting Edey back healthy almost feels like adding another offseason acquisition, especially for a team looking to establish more consistency in the frontcourt.
The Grizzlies also brought in Isaiah Stewart, Jerami Grant and Quinten Post. Grant has a chance to become an important piece after arriving in the trade that finally sent Ja Morant elsewhere. That move officially closed the book on an era that once looked like it would define basketball in Memphis for years. Instead of trying to patch things together, the Grizzlies chose a clean break.
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It wasn't an easy decision, but it gives the franchise a clearer direction. This season isn't about replacing Morant, really. It's about finding out how quickly Boozer can grow into a leading role while the rest of the young roster develops around him.
The wins may not come as easily right away, and that's part of rebuilding. We should really watch whether Memphis leaves this season feeling confident that Boozer is the player to build around for the next decade. That's the storyline worth following, and it begins the moment he steps onto an NBA floor.
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