NBA free agents are getting flat-out paid during the first 24 hours of free agency. Wild contracts are being handed out left and right. And, Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Desmond Bane is one of the biggest beneficiaries of that kind of money.
Make no mistake, he was going to get a pretty big contract regardless, but I’m not sure anyone saw a deal this big coming for the 25-year-old.
BREAKING: Memphis Grizzlies G Desmond Bane has agreed on a five-year, $207M max contract extension, his agents Jim Tanner, Max Wiepking and Terrence Felder of @_Tandemse tell ESPN. Grizzlies’ cornerstone players — Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Bane — are secured long-term. pic.twitter.com/tFeXZedcst
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
The deal is the largest in the history of the Memphis Grizzlies, which underscores how much money is being thrown around in free agency. He’s not even close to the best player in franchise history, or even on his own team. Embattled guard Ja Morant and defensive player of the year Jaren Jackson Jr.
Still, he’s a guy who averaged 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game last year, and he’s definitely a good third option. The Grizzlies were the second-seed in the Western Conference before losing in six games to the eventual conference finalists Los Angeles Lakers. I can see why they’d want to bring Desmond Bane back, but it seems like way too much money. NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor disagrees with me, though.
Desmond Bane is great and only gets better every season. One of the NBA's best shooters, a high IQ player, progressing every year off the dribble, a good defender, and a very hard worker. Bane is worth this max if he never gets better. The Grizzlies know he will. https://t.co/COkexE2POA
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 1, 2023
Time will tell, but it likely won’t matter unless Ja Morant gets his act together.