They're really playing the blues before the basketball game on Beale Street. Ongoing discomfort and a process to address a talar bone strain have soured another Zack Eddy season, leaving fans wondering what will happen in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Memphis Grizzlies still have an investment in the 7-foot-4 Canadian as part of the future core, but the scouting department's priority is identifying a frontcourt insurance policy as the NCAA March Madness ramps up.
Eddy played only 11 games of the 2025–26 season, averaging 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks before suffering an ankle strain reaction. Everyone expects him to be back in the production lineup for at least 65-80 games next season. However, this is asking a lot considering AD's career highs in on-court mileage. Shooting Floor The same applies to identifying front-court pieces with modern NBA production demands. Memphis should try the same.
Ade Mara has a 7-foot-3 frame that would theoretically pair well with Ade, but Michigan's paint hub has made just two three-pointers total in college and is hitting below 50% from the free-throw line. This combination clogs the vacancy to the point where few NBA rosters can productively absorb him. The same logic disqualifies Taris Reed and Flory Bidunga. Henry Vissar is a legitimate second-round name, but Kleiman's Grizzlies are not in a position where a developmental gamble meets the urgency of the current rebuild.
Chris Cenac Jr. is crowned champion
Houston's other freshman phenomenon is starting to heat up again. While the Kingston Flemings are getting lottery teams in the Space City, New Orleans native Chris Cenac Jr. is a player a championship team is hoping to steal. Four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala made headlines by predicting that the 19-year-old would be the first overall pick in this draft. He is ranked 13th to 22nd overall on the consensus major boards. It's a perfect fit for the Grizzlies.
Cenac's defensive rebound percentage (26%) ranks him second among all freshmen, ahead of Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Nate Ament and Hannes Steinbach. He ranks in the 97th percentile in at-rim efficiency, boosted by 30 highlight dunks. Elite mobility, with the ability to switch to the perimeter and guard guards, is evident in high-major games. His length and vertical pop are serious rim protector traits that will be massive. Blocking shots and disrupting passing lanes should be no problem on the first day of NBA training camp.
Standing 6 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 240 pounds, Senac (9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds) is a mixture of Herb Jones and Anthony Davis. That's the roof. Natural fluid athleticism is rare for a player his size, and he has increased confidence in taking jumpers, including from beyond the arc, which could make him a modern stretch in the NBA. His floor is still higher than all the other big men not selected in the top five in the last five drafts.
It's all about landing spots, and the Grizzlies have a great rookie role in Cenac as Ade's sidekick. Kelvin Sampson said before the season that Cenac would be a pop man rather than a roll man, able to spot spots in transition, handle the ball and pass. The results have been substantial but certainly not shocking. There are concerns about his lack of signature skills and occasional inconsistency in performance, especially in rebounding.
ClutchPoints watched the game sitting next to the NBA decision maker and Cenac was boxed out twice in one half by the smallest player on the court. Three-point shooting (32.9%) seems to be maxed out given the free-throw (61.1%) numbers. Houston is working to break those bad habits and increase accuracy before the conference tournament begins. The Grizzlies should reap those awards for the rest of the decade.
hannes steinbach is a star
Admittedly, Hannes Steinbach is not as athletic as Cenac. However, the most decorated frontcourt freshman in the Big Ten is not on a tournament team, which is either the saddest story of March or the most convenient situation for lottery-bound organizations to do their homework. For a quick update on the Portal Era, the 19-year-old went through the Wurzburg Baskets youth program and has Basketball Bundesliga experience, but he wanted to test the NCAA waters this season.
Averaging a double-double at 18.2 points (33.3% 3PA) and 11.4 rebounds per game he was already climbing high on draft boards, so coming to the states was the right call. Even without real perimeter help and playing through frequent double-team looks, he leads the Big Ten in rebounding and has recorded 11 double-doubles. This is high-floor production the Grizzlies can use immediately. Averaged 17.4 points and 13 rebounds to lead Germany to a silver medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup last summer, reflecting that championship mentality.
Tuomas Isalo would love to have reliable rebounding, high effort level and above average skills for a big man. Steinbach can be deployed everywhere and expect to be successful as a rookie, and has more progression as a shooter (71.1% FTA). Footwork, internal strength, touch, decision making, tested internationally, all the boxes are checked. Scouts view him as one of the safest bets among the bigs for a reason, even if it's hard to envision an All-NBA upset.
Patrick Ngongba II needs time
The skilled finishing around the rim, solid vision and steady defense that fills Patrick Ngongba II's stat sheet (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists) draws praise from scouts. If the Grizzlies get a chance to bring the Duke star to FedEx Forum, Ja Morant will be happy to throw passes like Nikola Jokic. Ngongba II was limited as a rookie due to a lingering foot injury, averaging 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10.6 minutes, but those numbers have bounced this season (1.7 steals/block). The NBA front office believes his exponential growth trajectory is just starting to build momentum.
Nongba II will be a more reliable rim protector and better assist protector than the New Orleans Pelicans got in Yves Missy. His court-reading and instinctive adjustments to connecting with the team are far ahead of most teammates. Memphis may get a glimpse of Marc Gasol during Summer League action.
However, the 20-year-old has an extensive history of foot injuries. Ngongba II originally had two screws inserted in his right foot in high school, and last summer he was seen in a boot on his left foot. Between injuries and lack of shooting, the Grizzlies will need their second first-round selection (from Orlando).
As March Madness approaches and scouting intensifies, the discovery of the Jack Eddy insurance policy is likely to become one of the defining stories of this rebuild. The Grizzlies probably don't know yet what their next core looks like, but the path almost certainly passes through the frontcourt class of the 2026 draft.
