The Grizzlies are converting center Jay Huff to a standard, four-year contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). Memphis has an open roster spot, so no corresponding move is necessary.
Huff has been outstanding for the Grizzlies to begin the year, averaging 13.3 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 63.6% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. He’s helped the Grizzlies to a 2-1 record to begin the year.
The Grizzlies could have theoretically had Huff active for far longer on his two-way deal, as teams are permitted to have two-way players active for 50 games each if they have 15 players on the standard roster or 90 games total if they have 14 like the Grizzlies did. However, since he’d been impressing by such a drastic measure in training camp, the preseason and regular season, there was no reason to wait on rewarding him. Just as in recent years, Memphis is rewarding an impressive young player who had been on a two-way deal with a team-friendly long-term contract. GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr. and Scotty Pippen Jr. all followed similar paths.
Huff went undrafted in 2021 after playing collegiately at Virginia. He spent time on two-ways with the Lakers, Wizards and Nuggets, but didn’t catch on with any of them at the NBA level despite earning Defensive Player of the Year in the G League in 2023.
The Grizzlies now have an opening for their two-way slots. They can fill that with any player with fewer than three years of NBA experience. Maozinha Pereira, who earned a 10-day contract with the team and spent training camp with the Grizzlies, could be an option if the team wanted.
Swoop up Matt Ryan and you can have 60% of the 2022/23 South Bay Lakers starting lineup
OKC-Memphis will be super entertaining conference finals.