Evaluation of Richie Saunders: He balances out Grizzlies' new roster

Matt Zemek, BYU Cougars WireSun, June 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM UTC

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Richie Saunders was one part of a very active 2026 NBA Draft for the Memphis Grizzlies. Reaction to the Grizzlies' selection of the BYU star at No. 32 was measured but generally positive, via Yahoo! Sports:

"Entering the draft, the Grizzlies wanted to address their frontcourt depth, primary shot-creation, and possible franchise cornerstones (replace Ja Morant, possibly). Saunders being selected at No. 32 isn't much of a risk considering their selections in the first round. Saunders will turn 25 this September and provides Memphis with a mature player out of college who has been attached to a basketball system for a specific amount of time. The NBA staff graded Saunders' selection with a B-."

Bleacher Report, in the article linked to above, wrote that "Whenever he gets healthy, he should consistently supply outside shooting, insatiable energy, and smart decision-making. Of course, he'll also have underwhelming physical tools, limited creations, and one of the shorter ceilings in this draft. At this range, that's not as big a deal, especially with decent height for a wing. And on a team that already has plenty of young talent on the wings, Saunders' experience brings a nice balance."

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It's true that the Grizzlies got a lot of size and frontcourt help in the draft and through trades. Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Stewart, and Karim Lopez are all 6-8 or bigger. Saunders is a backcourt piece which balances out those frontcourt investments and balances out the Grizzlies' roster, which is expected to undergo even more changes in the coming offseason. Ja Morant and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are expected to go to other teams before next season begins in October.

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This article originally appeared on BYU Cougars Wire: Richie Saunders is vital backcourt piece for Grizzlies' new roster

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Source: “AOL Sports”