6:37pm: Pippen Jr. has officially signed the contract, the team’s PR department tweets.
5:02pm: The Grizzlies are converting Scotty Pippen Jr.‘s two-way contract into a four-year standard deal, Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype tweets.
Pippen appeared in 21 games for the injury-ravaged Grizzlies last season, including 16 starts, and averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals. He continued to play well in Summer League games, averaging 21.5 points, 8.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds in six Las Vegas contests.
He has the inside track at backing up Ja Morant if the club doesn’t acquire another point guard. Heading into camp, Pippen and Derrick Rose were the main candidates for that spot but that changed quickly when Rose announced his retirement.
Pippen, 23, went undrafted in 2022. He signed a two-way deal with the Lakers that year and spent most of his time in the G League while appearing in six NBA contests. The Lakers waived him during training camp last October and he signed with the Grizzlies on that two-way contract in mid-January.
The Grizzlies still have an open roster spot, if they chose to add another player.
Finally a team believes in him.