Memphis Grizzlies player No. 2) Scotty Pippen Jr.
Assuming the Grizzlies waive Mamadi Diakite, as his expiring deal has a worth of just $2.3 million for next season and can easily be moved on from with limited financial repercussions, they'll have yet another roster spot available to be used before the start of the regular season.
Though one is almost certainly already being accounted for with one specific free agent on their radar (more on that later), the other could realistically be used to bring Scotty Pippen Jr. aboard on a full-time basis.
Currently attached to a two-way contract, it has been proven both through his 2023-24 stint with the franchise and in six games played during this year's Summer League that he's all but justified the investment the Grizzlies made in his upside back in January and is more than deserving of joining the club on a standard, multi-year deal.
Scotty Pippen Jr. goes no-look, Trey Jemison flushes it home 🤝
— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2024
DAL-MEM in Vegas on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/XuTYrIs4cH
A true quarterback on the hardwood, despite his shorter 6-foot-1 frame, Pippen has proven capable of commanding an offense with his facilitation skills, ball-handling abilities, and overall scoring prowess.
Last season he sported impressive per-game averages of 12.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals on 49.3 percent shooting and 41.7 percent shooting from deep, and has only gone on to up his production during these offseason exhibitions with 19.1 points, 6.8 assists, 4.1 boards, and 3.3 steals per contest.
With Ja Morant's absence from the lineup last season due to injuries and off-court happenings, it became quite apparent that the Grizzlies severely missed having a competent floor general waiting in the reserves as they were so blessed with possessing during Tyus Jones' four-year stint with the team.
While they likely won't be getting him back in Grind City during this summer's free agency (though how fun would that be!), they could fill their need for such a commodity by using one of the roster spots that are presumed to be opening up as a result of the Ziaire Williams trade on Pippen.