With the 11th overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Cedric Coward after a trade up from the 16th pick with the Portland Trail Blazers. Coward was considered a draft riser after impressing multiple teams during the pre-draft workout process, and the Grizzlies felt he was worth trading two first-round picks (2028 Orlando Magic pick also) and two future second-round picks for.
Unfortunately, Coward was still recovering from a surgery to repair a torn labrum from December last season in his final college season at Washington State. While he healed enough to participate in individual pre-draft workouts, he wasn't cleared to play for the Grizzlies' summer league team.