After selecting Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells with their first two draft picks last year, the Grizzlies traded up from 57 to 53 in the second round to draft Cam Spencer. Spencer was fresh off a national championship victory with the University of Connecticut over Zach Edey and his Purdue team.
After transferring from Loyola (Maryland), where he was teammates with current Grizzly Santi Aldama, he shot 44% from three in 40 starts for the Huskers. Including his four seasons at Loyola (Maryland), Cam Spencer only shot less than 43% from three in one of his five total college seasons.
That type of marksmanship gave the Grizzlies the golden opportunity to draft their sharpshooter in waiting as the team looked to contend last season. Luke Kennard was re-signed to a one-year contract last summer to pave the way for the transition to Cam Spencer this offseason. Without Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard, he steps into a role he is likely the best at on the current roster.
Cam Spencer is the Grizzlies' best three-point shooter
Cam Spencer originally agreed to a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies when free agency first began. However, the contract was reworked once they settled the Jay Huff trade and Cole Anthony buyout to a four-year, $10.5 million deal similar to those signed by Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson, and Scotty Pippen Jr. in 2024.
After only playing 25 games in limited minutes for the Grizzlies on a two-way contract last season, Spencer is proving why the Grizzlies felt comfortable moving forward with him as the primary shooter in summer league. He is averaging 18.4 points on 51.6% shooting from three through five summer league games.
His form and shot creation have fans excited because of the shock factor when he does miss a three-point shot. There is an argument to be made that newly signed guard Ty Jerome slots in as the Grizzlies' best shooter after shooting 43.9% from three last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Also, newly acquired guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has shot over 40% from three in three of his last five seasons. Cam Spencer is still young in his career and shot 36.5% in limited action during his rookie season, but he shot 49.3% in the G League with the Memphis Hustle on 73 attempts in eight total games last season.
Minutes will be hard to come by for Spencer with Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr., Ty Jerome, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and possibly Jaylen Wells in the backcourt rotation. However, best believe his shooting ability will give him a chance to play at any moment to provide a spark to the lineup.