NBA Draft's Southwest Impact
NBA Draft Strengthens Southwest Division Frontcourts with Multiple Big Man Selections
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The Southwest Division got a lot bigger on draft night. Memphis, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas all loaded up on front-court players, reshaping the division's identity around paint presence and physicality AP News.
The Grizzlies led the charge by taking Duke forward Cameron Boozer third overall, then adding 19-year-old Mexican-born forward Karim Lopez in a trade with Detroit. The Spurs doubled down too, grabbing two more big men to play alongside Victor Wembanyama Los Angeles Times.
Memphis Builds Its Biggest Frontcourt in Years
Boozer is no small bet. The 6-foot-9, 253-pound Duke freshman averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season. CBS Sports called him the "safest bet in the class to be an All-Star" and awarded the pick an A+ grade CBS Sports.
Boozer himself set the bar high right away. He said, "Me and Zach Edey will become one of the best rebounding duos in the league" AP News. Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman called the plan a "supersized, super-physical frontcourt" — a clear callback to the team's famous "Grit N Grind" era of the early 2010s Sports Illustrated.
Karim Lopez Makes Mexican Basketball History
Lopez became the first Mexican-born player ever selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Detroit picked him 21st overall, then immediately traded his rights to Memphis Los Angeles Times.
The 19-year-old Lopez was emotional after the pick. He said, "I'm blessed. I mean, I have no words... I want to show people that it doesn't matter where you're from" Los Angeles Times. The NBA sees him as a major draw for its growing fanbase in Mexico.
Spurs Swing Big Again After Championship Run
San Antonio selected Jayden Quaintance, a 6-9, 253-pound forward from Kentucky, at No. 20. The Spurs then traded with Denver to grab No. 26 and pick Tarris Reed Jr., a 6-11 center from UConn NBC Sports. In round two, they added guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Duke forward Maliq Brown at No. 44 San Antonio Express-News.
There is one big concern. Spurs GM Brian Wright said Quaintance's availability is currently "TBD" as he recovers from a late-season knee injury San Antonio Express-News. Analyst Paul Garcia noted that Reed is built to be a "plug-and-play" defensive specialist next to Wembanyama — but the Quaintance gamble carries real risk for a team looking to win now.
New Orleans Pays the Price for Last Year's Trade
The Pelicans had no first-round pick. In 2025, they traded it to Atlanta — unprotected — to move up for Derik Queen. That pick landed at No. 8 this year and became Kingston Flemings. Analysts called it "front-office malpractice" Yahoo Sports.
After a 26-win season and a lost top-10 pick, GM David Griffin and executive Joe Dumars are under serious pressure Sports Illustrated. New Orleans did eventually pick at No. 58, adding Jeron Pierre Jr., but the damage from the trade looms large over the franchise heading into next season.
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