Cedric Coward (wrist) downgraded to out vs. GSW

With Cedric Coward (wrist) unavailable, Jackson moved into the starting lineup on Friday. Unfortunately for those who streamed him, GG offered little value as a spot starter. He picked up four fouls in 10 first-half minutes, and Kris Murray (three rebounds, one assist, and one block) would start the third quarter. Whether or not Jackson gets another opportunity on Sunday against the Kings depends on Coward’s health, but he may not be worth the streaming risk in most leagues.

The Grizzlies are without Cedric Coward, who suffered a sprained left wrist during Wednesday’s win over the Jazz. Jackson moves into the starting lineup, making him a worthwhile streamer in deep leagues. The other four starters are unchanged.

Coward, who played 28 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Jazz, is dealing with a sprained left wrist. With the doubtful tag, he’s more likely to miss Friday. If Coward sits, reserves like Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jerami Grant would get more offensive opportunities.

It wasn’t the best outing for Coward who had five fouls in this game. He was being drafted in the 80’s and through the 90’s in redraft leagues. Obviously, you would want more at that price point, but it didn’t happen tonight. He’ll have his next opportunity against the Warriors on Friday.

Jackson erupted for a team-high 12 first-half points off the bench in the opening half and delivered an extremely efficient shooting performance in his preseason debut. He’s unlikely to be a focal point for the Grizzlies as they build around a Cedric Coward and Ty Jerome backcourt, but he makes sense as an offensive igniter off the bench capable of scoring in bunches and leading the second unit.

Coward was, again, one of Memphis’ top performers on Sunday. He struggled inside the arc but was lethal from beyond it, draining all five of his three-point attempts before finishing tied for a team-high 19 points. The second-year guard also fared well on the glass and as a facilitator in the loss. If he can increase his three-point efficiency and take a step forward as a passer, he should be in for a good sophomore season as it pertains to fantasy basketball.

The results in Summer League don’t mean a great deal, but teams with a chance to take home the title usually ramp things up a notch toward the end of the week. Coward has surpassed 20 points in each of his last two games, with Saturday’s effort helping push the Grizzlies into Sunday’s title game. Given the players Memphis has moved on from within the last year, the franchise is embarking on a new era, and Coward is expected to be one of the leaders. And his skill set is such that he could be an incredibly valuable player in fantasy basketball, especially for those competing in category leagues.

Coward and the Grizzlies rolled to a 96-64 victory, guaranteeing themselves a place in Saturday’s semifinals. The second-year guard was efficient offensively, shooting well over 50 percent from the field, with his final line lacking only a blocked shot. With the Grizzlies embarking on a new era, the tandem of Coward and lottery pick Cameron Boozer will be asked to lead the way, and they possess the highest fantasy ceilings on the current roster.

That makes two double-doubles in as many games for Coward, who also dished out four assists. The combination of injuries that limited him to 62 games as a rookie and the Grizzlies beginning a new era without Ja Morant could explain why Coward is still playing in Summer League. Still, it would be unsurprising if he were shut down at some point. Due to the changes made by the Grizzlies’ brain trust over the past season and this summer, Coward will have a higher fantasy ceiling in 2026-27.

Making his first appearance in Las Vegas after shoulder surgery sidelined him last summer, Coward finished Friday’s 97-96 victory with a solid double-double. As was the case in Salt Lake City, the Grizzlies wing struggled with his perimeter shot on Friday, shooting 1-of-5 from beyond the arc. However, Coward provided value as a rebounder, defender and playmaker. With the Grizzlies turning the page from the Ja Morant era, Coward is one of the players who will figure prominently in their rotation next season. That makes him a more valuable fantasy basketball option, especially if Coward can improve his perimeter shooting.