The Memphis Grizzlies have solidified their core, locking up hot-shooting guard Desmond Bane with a five-year, $207 million max extension according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Originally selected 30th overall by the Grizzlies in the 2020 Draft, Bane has blossomed into one of the league’s finest shooters, hitting 42.5 per cent of his threes over his career and 40.8 last season.
Bane, 25, marks the third piece of the Grizzlies’ young core to get locked up long-term, joining Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. He was set to become a restricted free agent next summer.
His contract is the first $200 million deal in franchise history.
The Grizzlies, who will be without Morant for the first 25 games of the season due to a suspension, have paid extra attention to their backcourt this off-season. They traded for Marcus Smart earlier in the off-season in the three-team deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics and Tyus Jones to the Wizards.
They also signed veteran point guard Derrick Rose to a two-year $6.5 million contract on Friday.
Memphis was eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs, losing 4-2 to the Los Angeles Lakers.