Scotty Pippen Jr.’s drive to this moment began the last season, when, as a two-way contract player, he started the final 11 games of the season for a Memphis team destroyed by injuries. In April, he averaged 15.1 points and 5.3 assists per game for the team. That led to Las Vegas, where he averaged 21.5 points and 8.7 assists a game for the Grizzlies during Summer League.
That same production continued in the preseason, and it led to this: The Grizzlies moved Pippen — the son of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen — from a two-way deal to a fully guaranteed contract for this season, something that was widely reported. since Derrick Rose has retired and was officially broken by ESPN’s Shams Charaniathen confirmed by the team.
Memphis was impressed enough with Pippen that they gave him a four-year contract with the first two seasons fully guaranteed, reports Spotrac’s Keith Smith.
Pippen is expected to be a regular part of the rotation, backing up Ja Morant at the point. Give the Grizzlies credit, while their core stars — Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. – moves to their prime, the franchise has built a quality young group behind them with Zach Edey, GG Jackson II, Vince Williams Jr., Jaylen. Wells and now Pippin.
With all that youth, the Grizzlies want to run past teams and play at one of the fastest paces in the league this season. Memphis is finally mostly healthy after a rough season of injuries and will get back to being one of the most entertaining teams in the league — and they could get back to their 50-win season pace and six seed, too. Don’t sleep on the Grizzlies.
