The Memphis Grizzlies have been trying to decide who their backup point guard was going to be ever since reaching a buyout with the now retired Derrick Rose.
Considering that Marcus Smart —the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year —has played point guard extensively, he could have been the choice. Yet, with the team’s desire to have an elite point-of-attack defender in the first unit, Smart has retained his starting spot. That may still change. After all, starting two perimeter players whose biggest weakness is their three-point shooting isn’t ideal.
Grizzlies Sign Undrafted Scotty Pippen Jr. To Long-Term Contract
The Grizzlies now appear set to make Scotty Pippen Jr. their backup point guard. On Tuesday, Memphis signed the 23-year-old to a four-year contract, per HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto.
Memphis Grizzlies agreed to a four-year deal with Scotty Pippen Jr, sources told @hoopshype. He averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals last season, emerging as a Grizzlies role player. @KlutchSports CEO Rich Paul and agent Shayaun Saee negotiated the deal. pic.twitter.com/xcOfxG7VTP
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) October 15, 2024
Pippen was originally on a two-way contract, which he signed in January.
Scotty’s Roller Coaster Ride
For those who have followed Pippen since his days at Vanderbilt, there’s been little doubt that he’s a rotation-caliber NBA guard. The Sierra Canyon product averaged 20.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game in his final two seasons with the Commodores.
Like many players who grew up around the game, his basketball IQ allows him to be an high-level on-court processor. Like his father, Hall of Fame forward Scottie Pippen, he’s a determined defender. Though he didn’t have a pure stroke from beyond the arc, he was a crafty and instinctive scorer.
That obviously wasn’t good enough for him to be among the 58 prospects selected in the 2022 NBA Draft. However, the Los Angeles Lakers all but immediately signed him to a two-way contract. He spent considerable time with their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, where everything he showed in college would translate. However, he didn’t really get a chance to show his stuff in Los Angeles.
Somewhat surprisingly, the Lakers waived Pippen last October. A few months later, he signed a two-way contract with a Grizzlies squad that was hampered by injuries.
As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Capitalizing on the minutes he received after Smart and Ja Morant’s injuries, Pippen posted 12.9 points, 4.7 assists, and 1.7 steals in 25.1 minutes per game. He even found success from beyond the arc, shooting 41.7 percent from three.
With nothing guaranteed, he’s kept his foot on the pedal. In Summer League, he averaged 20.1 points, 7.8 assists, and 3.3 steals per game. This preseason, he’s averaging 10.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.0 steal in 20.5 minutes per game while shooting 37.5 percent from long range.
