The Grizzlies‘ two first-round picks, forward Ziaire Williams and forward/center Santi Aldama, have officially signed their rookie contracts, the team announced today in a press release.
Williams, who spent a single season at Stanford before declaring for the draft, was the 10th overall pick on July 29. Memphis acquired the selection as part of the Jonas Valanciunas/Eric Bledsoe/Steven Adams deal with New Orleans, moving up from No. 17 in order to secure Williams.
Aldama, meanwhile, was the 30th overall pick in this year’s draft. The Grizzlies packaged the No. 40 selection with two future second-rounders in a deal with Utah in order to move up to the end of the first round to draft the 6’11” Spaniard, who played his college ball at Loyola (Maryland).
Assuming they both received the maximum allowable 120% of the rookie scale (which nearly all first-round picks do), Williams will earn $4.37MM in his first NBA season, while Aldama will make $1.99MM.
The Grizzlies now have 15 players on guaranteed contracts, meaning most of their offseason business is probably done. The team does still have one two-way slot open, with a two-way qualifying offer out to Killian Tillie.
I still don’t understand the logic of packaging three picks to move up to #30 to select a guy that wasn’t even ranked in the top 60 prospects. Not only did they give up three picks, but since they picked him in the first round, he gets guaranteed money. To me, it just seems like he would have still been there at 40 for them.
For what it’s worth, there was a report on draft night that the Grizzlies thought the Thunder were targeting Aldama early in the second round. It’s in our original story on the trade. link to hoopsrumors.com
Thanx Luke, I missed that detail. He still seems like an iffy prospect to use all that future ammo on. But I guess if he works out it won’t matter much.
I wonder if Ziaire would have been there at 17 w Okc getting 2 {potential} cracks at him before that pick, probably- maybe- who knows right?
If he can have 75% of Steve Smith’s career Memphis will be pleased . I can’t get past the comp w these 2 players
Smith was always polished but Im projecting as if Ziaire will be to someday.
Aldama averages a DD in college and play very good defense he seems to remind some of the Gasol’s brothers