The 2026 NBA Draft is finally here, and with the Memphis Grizzlies sitting at No. 3, the big question isn’t just which prospect they take — it’s whether that pick is meant to play alongside Ja Morant or replace him.
Iman Shumpert made his case loud and clear on ESPN’s NBA Today. He didn’t dance around it. If he were running Memphis, he’d take former UNC star Caleb Wilson over Cam Boozer. And he has a very specific reason.
“My biggest question is, uh, what does Memphis choose to do? ‘Cause if I was them, I would take Caleb Wilson over Boozer,” Shumpert said. “I just would do it because if people are saying what they’re saying, the sources that I know would say that Ja Morant is immovable at the moment, which is why they’ve had such a hard time. I know the relationship is done, but if you have to put him back in a jersey, put him next to Caleb Wilson. Let them run and be free and have fun and yell and do everything that they wanna do.”
That’s a lot to unpack. But Shumpert’s point is straightforward: if the front office can’t trade Morant, they might as well build around him in a way that actually works. And Wilson, he argues, fits that mold better than Boozer.
What Caleb Wilson brings to the table
Wilson’s freshman season at North Carolina was legit. He averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists. The three-point shooting isn’t there yet — 25.9 percent from deep — but he’s not afraid to let it fly. His athleticism and ability to finish in the pick-and-roll could pair nicely with Morant’s downhill style if both guys actually stay on the floor together.
That’s a big if. Morant’s been in and out of the lineup for years now, dealing with injuries and off-court issues that have turned a once-promising Grizzlies team into a lottery-bound mess. But Shumpert seems to think Wilson’s energy and personality could breathe some life back into the locker room.
The Boozer factor
Cam Boozer has been the consensus pick for Memphis in most mock drafts. ClutchPoints senior NBA reporter Brett Siegel has Boozer going third overall to the Grizzlies. He’s big, skilled and comes from NBA bloodlines. It’s the safe bet.
But safe isn’t necessarily what Memphis needs right now. The team has to decide whether Morant is still the franchise guy or just a placeholder until a rebuild fully kicks in. Taking Boozer would signal they’re thinking long term. Taking Wilson would signal they’re still trying to win with Morant.
Shumpert’s leaning hard toward the latter. Whether the front office agrees is a different story. We’ll know for sure tomorrow night.
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