The Memphis Grizzlies entered this offseason with only one of their three two-way guys to end last season under contract. Cam Spencer was promoted to the main roster and Yuki Kawamura signed with the Chicago Bulls' summer league team, leaving Zyon Pullin as their only returning two-way player.
The team utilized their two second-round draft picks on guards Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack, who figure to command their final two-way slots. However, big man depth has become a need for the Grizzlies, and, just last offseason, the team cut ties with Trey Jemison to sign Jay Huff from the Orlando Magic summer league team on a two-way contract.
This means the current Grizzlies' two-way Zyon Pullin isn't a safe bet to remain on his contract, and his performance through two summer league games has left a lot to be desired by the Grizzlies fanbase.
Grizzlies fans are out on Zyon Pullin as a two-way prospect
The two-way contract is something the Grizzlies take seriously as Cam Spencer marked the fifth player to earn a roster spot on the main team since January 2024. Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson II, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Jay Huff were all promoted to the Grizzlies' main roster from a two-way contract last calendar year.
Three of those five players (Williams Jr., Jackson II, and Spencer) were originally drafted by the Grizzlies in the second round of their respective NBA drafts. Zyon Pullin signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies in January 2025 after going undrafted in last year's draft, similar to Scotty Pippen Jr.'s journey when he signed his two-way contract with the team last January.
However, Zyon Pullin has a long way to go to match Pippen Jr.'s eventual progress of being promoted to the active roster. Pippen Jr. arguably should've been the summer league MVP last year, leaving no question as to whether he could be the backup point guard to Ja Morant.
Pullin entered the summer league this year with the odds stacked against him after the Grizzlies selected two defensive-minded guards in last month's NBA draft. Pullin, known for his offense, has struggled defensively through his first two summer league games, while having a bit of the turnover bug with nine combined turnovers in the two games.
His struggles have Grizzlies fans wondering how he even got a two-way contract from the team in the first place. He still has time to turn things around, but with the team's insistence on adding defensive-minded players and their need for another big man, Pullin is likely to suffer the same fate that Trey Jemison suffered for the team last summer league.