People inside and outside Grind City are already calling for the Memphis Grizzlies to start Cedric Coward. Their stance is…tough to poke holes in.
Despite coming off the bench, Coward spends ample time checking opposing stars. His 10 most frequent assignments thus far include Devin Booker, Cade Cunningham, Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Kevin Durant, Cooper Flagg and Austin Reaves. These stints have not always ended well, but Coward is holding his own and not conceding many easy buckets or shooting fouls.
The offensive package is universally scalable. Coward knows how to cut through open space in the half-court and make plays in transition. Among the 23 other players who have finished as many possessions on the break, only Zach LaVine and Paolo Banchero draw shooting fouls more often. His 52 percent clip on arc threes speaks for itself, even if it’s in no way sustainable.
Taken at No. 11, Coward cost the Grizzlies two first-round picks as well as two second-rounders. Even with this in mind, though, he’s shaping up to be the mother of all draft-day steals.
