Do not look now, however it seems that the Memphis Grizzlies might have a serious draft steal on their palms. The Grizzlies chosen Cedric Coward eleventh general within the 2025 NBA Draft, and there have been some who questioned whether or not they have been proper utilizing a lottery choose on him.
Previous to the NBA Draft, he gave the impression to be one of many extra NBA-ready prospects. That also seems to be the case now, with him already having a formidable exhibiting within the NBA.
Regardless of enjoying three seasons in faculty, he solely performed 5 video games for Duke final season. Even so, these 5 video games launched him to a bigger viewers and helped him be seen as a lottery prospect.
Mix that with the actual fact he averaged a strong 17.7 factors and seven rebounds and shot 40% from deep on 5 threes per recreation, and he appeared like a worthwhile gamble. In spite of everything, Coward has a dependable shot, can create for himself off-the-dribble, and may guard on the perimeter together with his spectacular bodily profile at 6’6″, with a 7’2 1/2″ wingspan and a 38.5″ vertical leap.
Coward rapidly quieted doubters in simply his three regular-season recreation with a formidable 27 factors, together with drilling six threes.
Up to now, by way of 4 video games, he is averaging 16.5 factors and capturing 64.3% from three in simply 23.5 minutes per recreation. That ought to come as a giant aid to Grizzlies followers who have been probably cautiously optimistic that he may make an instantaneous impression.
Cedric Coward simply proved he could possibly be the Grizzlies’ third possibility
Coward’s coming-out occasion highlights the Grizzlies’ offseason strikes, which noticed them commerce Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. That transfer netted them 4 first-round picks and gave them huge monetary flexibility to construct round Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
If Coward may be the Grizzlies’ newest success story, then he may rapidly become their quantity three possibility. That might give them a far cheaper and extra full model of Bane. Whereas Bane ranks as top-of-the-line high-volume shooters within the NBA, he did not present a lot else, whereas Coward has a much more well-rounded talent set.
Higher nonetheless, lottery picks with comparable bodily profiles to Coward have typically panned out in huge methods, with Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes each being examples. That isn’t to say that he shall be a surefire future all-star, however he has the talent, peak, size, and measurement to probably become one within the close to future.
All in all, Coward’s explosive efficiency proves that his restricted however stellar faculty season was removed from a fluke. If he can dwell as much as his huge potential on each ends of the ground, he may rapidly emerge as a 3rd possibility for the Grizzlies and permit them to retool round Marant and Jackson Jr. briefly order.
