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The Memphis Grizzlies can now sign Karim López.
Memphis waived Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after a buyout, reducing their roster to 18 players on standard contracts. López, their first-round pick last month, has not signed.
His rookie deal at No. 21 pays $3,746,760 in 2026-27 and $3,934,320 the next season, both guaranteed, with team options at $4,121,760 and $6,565,964 afterward. Total four-year value is $18,368,804. Unsigned first-rounders have a cap hold equal to the first-year figure, so it's on the books either way.
Memphis had 19 standard contracts, 2 two-way players, and 2 unsigned draft picks as of Friday, the most crowded roster in the NBA at 23 total. Second-round pick Richie Saunders is the other unsigned draftee. Taj Gibson, who turned 41 in June, is on a non-guaranteed contract.
Teams carry a maximum of 15 standard contracts once the regular season starts.
The Grizzlies would have roughly $41 million in luxury tax space if Caldwell-Pope gave back the equivalent of his minimum salary in the buyout, according to The Third Apron. The tax line for 2026-27 is $200,428,000. The first apron sits at $209,015,000.
Memphis has not touched the $29 million trade exception it created in the Jaren Jackson Jr. deal. That was the largest in league history when the Grizzlies generated it on Feb. 3. The Santi Aldama trade to the Dallas Mavericks preserved it in full.
Memphis and D'Angelo Russell are working toward a buyout or a trade. Russell is owed $5.97 million.
The Detroit Pistons took López with the No. 21 pick on June 23 and traded his rights to Memphis that night, along with three second-round picks, for Ebuka Okorie. He is the first player born and raised in Mexico to go in the first round.
"It means a lot to me," López said afterward.
López averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 30 games for the New Zealand Breakers last season. He added 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks in 25.6 minutes a night and shot 49% from the field.
He was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, on April 12, 2007. He left for Spain at 14 to join Joventut Badalona, then signed with the Breakers in 2024 and spent two seasons in the Australian NBL. He is 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds.
López's hamstring injury caused him to miss most Summer League games against Chicago, Dallas, and Golden State, and he returned July 16 vs. Atlanta.
Cameron Boozer signed his rookie contract earlier this month and made the All-Summer League First Team. Memphis went 4-2 and lost the Las Vegas final to the Golden State Warriors, 94-90.
The Grizzlies hold 12 first-round picks in the next seven drafts. Saunders is recovering from a torn ACL. Training camp begins in late September.
Continue reading...
Memphis waived Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after a buyout, reducing their roster to 18 players on standard contracts. López, their first-round pick last month, has not signed.
His rookie deal at No. 21 pays $3,746,760 in 2026-27 and $3,934,320 the next season, both guaranteed, with team options at $4,121,760 and $6,565,964 afterward. Total four-year value is $18,368,804. Unsigned first-rounders have a cap hold equal to the first-year figure, so it's on the books either way.
Memphis had 19 standard contracts, 2 two-way players, and 2 unsigned draft picks as of Friday, the most crowded roster in the NBA at 23 total. Second-round pick Richie Saunders is the other unsigned draftee. Taj Gibson, who turned 41 in June, is on a non-guaranteed contract.
Teams carry a maximum of 15 standard contracts once the regular season starts.
The Grizzlies would have roughly $41 million in luxury tax space if Caldwell-Pope gave back the equivalent of his minimum salary in the buyout, according to The Third Apron. The tax line for 2026-27 is $200,428,000. The first apron sits at $209,015,000.
Memphis has not touched the $29 million trade exception it created in the Jaren Jackson Jr. deal. That was the largest in league history when the Grizzlies generated it on Feb. 3. The Santi Aldama trade to the Dallas Mavericks preserved it in full.
Memphis and D'Angelo Russell are working toward a buyout or a trade. Russell is owed $5.97 million.
The Detroit Pistons took López with the No. 21 pick on June 23 and traded his rights to Memphis that night, along with three second-round picks, for Ebuka Okorie. He is the first player born and raised in Mexico to go in the first round.
"It means a lot to me," López said afterward.
López averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 30 games for the New Zealand Breakers last season. He added 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks in 25.6 minutes a night and shot 49% from the field.
He was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, on April 12, 2007. He left for Spain at 14 to join Joventut Badalona, then signed with the Breakers in 2024 and spent two seasons in the Australian NBL. He is 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds.
López's hamstring injury caused him to miss most Summer League games against Chicago, Dallas, and Golden State, and he returned July 16 vs. Atlanta.
Cameron Boozer signed his rookie contract earlier this month and made the All-Summer League First Team. Memphis went 4-2 and lost the Las Vegas final to the Golden State Warriors, 94-90.
The Grizzlies hold 12 first-round picks in the next seven drafts. Saunders is recovering from a torn ACL. Training camp begins in late September.
Continue reading...
