Grizzlies Formalize Cooper Two-Way Deal After Six-Month Wait

The Grizzlies officially signed Carson Cooper to a two-way contract on Monday, completing a transaction first reported in late March. The 6'11" former Michigan State starter had been in limbo for nearly half a year while Memphis deliberated on roster composition ahead of training camp.

Cooper, who went undrafted in June after four years in East Lansing, emerged as a full-time starter in his final college season, averaging 11.5 points per game. The timeline from initial agreement to formal signing suggests the Grizzlies were methodical about integrating him into their system—neither rushing nor dismissing him entirely. That six-month deliberation window is worth noting: teams don't sit on unsigned two-way candidates unless they're actively evaluating fit or managing roster flexibility.

The signing also triggered a corresponding move: Memphis waived another depth piece in the process, creating the contractual space. Two-way deals are developmental slots, not roster guarantees, which means Cooper will spend most of the season with Memphis's G League affiliate while remaining available for call-ups during injuries or crunch periods. For a Grizzlies team loaded with established frontcourt talent, that depth role is realistic.

From a betting perspective, Cooper's addition carries negligible impact on Memphis's season-level totals or win projections—he's a bench-adjacent lottery ticket. But his signing underscores the Grizzlies' confidence in their depth infrastructure and their willingness to invest in big-man development, which could surface in rest patterns or injury-related usage shifts as the season progresses. If a starting-caliber frontcourt player goes down, Cooper's potential minutes become relevant to team total overs and related combo props. Until then, he remains a marginal roster construction move with limited near-term predictive value for bettors.