The Memphis Grizzlies are going through a very tough stretch right now. They are dealing with injuries all across the roster. Many of their key players are hurt, and they are especially thin at the guard spot. They needed help badly, so the team decided to bring in a new face to strengthen their depth.
They signed Jahmai Mashack, a former guard from the Golden State Warriors. His path to Memphis has been a little confusing because he became part of a huge offseason trade. It was a seven-team deal that also involved Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant, and Mashack was one of the many players moved around because of it.
Shams Charania from ESPN reported that the Grizzlies have officially signed Mashack to a two-way contract. This means he will split time between the Grizzlies and their G-League team. Shams explained that the team is desperate for more bodies because they currently have four point guards injured and unable to play. Mashack gives them someone who can step in right away and take some pressure off the rest of the roster.
Mashack was not a big scorer in college at Tennessee. He was not known for hitting a lot of outside shots. But he did stand out because of how well he defended. He stayed in front of players on the perimeter without fouling too much, and he was surprisingly strong as an interior defender for his size. These defensive skills were a big reason the Grizzlies drafted him in the first place.
Before he could join Memphis officially, the massive offseason trade sent him to the Warriors for a short time. Then the Warriors traded him back to the Grizzlies. This caused some confusion among fans, but everything is settled now and Mashack is finally where the Grizzlies wanted him.
At first he was supposed to play in the G-League for his whole first season because he didn’t earn a two-way deal after the Summer League. But because so many Grizzlies players got hurt, the team had no choice. They needed more bodies immediately, and that opened the door for Mashack to get called up early.
He now has the chance to show what he can do in the NBA sooner than expected. If you want me to expand this further or make the sentences even simpler and slower baby, just tell me.