10:03 pm: Gibson’s two-year contract with the Grizzlies is now official, the team announced (via Twitter). Anderson was officially waived following his buyout.
Gibson’s minimum-salary contract for next season is non-guaranteed, confirms Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). It’s worth noting that since he signed a two-year deal, Gibson’s $3.8MM salary for 2026/27 will be his cap hit as well.
5:58 pm: The Grizzlies plan to sign free agent big man Taj Gibson, agent Mark Bartelstein tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). In a full story for ESPN.com, Charania states that Gibson is signing a two-year deal with Memphis, though the second season seems likely to be non-guaranteed.
Memphis is opening up a roster spot after reaching a buyout agreement with Kyle Anderson, who plans to sign with Minnesota.
Gibson, 40, appeared in 37 games with Charlotte last season, averaging 2.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.1 minutes per contest. He had been out of the NBA this season, but the longtime veteran is widely respected around the league for his leadership and professionalism, Charania notes (via Twitter).
Gibson will join a Grizzlies club which has pivoted to a full-fledged rebuild after trading Desmond Bane last summer, struggling amid another wave of injuries in 2025/26, and then sending Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah earlier this month. The 6’9″ forward/center will serve as a mentor and add size to Memphis, which has several frontcourt players sidelined.
This will be Gibson’s 17th NBA season, and if he plays in a game for the Grizzlies, he will become just the 35th player in league history to appear in a game at age 40, per Charania.
How does he keep getting contracts, especially from tanking teams, over better guys who have more upside like Moses Brown, Dennis smith jr, kj Martin, Delon wright, Markelle Fultz dariq whitehead Bol bol
It’s ridiculous. The man is 40. It has to be a tanking strategy. There’s no other way to explain it. There’s so many younger guys that could use his spot.
It’s not a tanking strategy necessarily when he doesn’t play minutes. Vets are highly valued in the locker room (as long as your name isn’t Chris Paul) for any team.
“who have more upside like Moses Brown, Dennis smith jr, kj Martin, Delon wright, Markelle Fultz dariq whitehead Bol bol”
LOL if you think any of these guys have upside. They are all washed 27 year olds who are known commodities.
There is a lot more value in having an adult in the room, a player/coach to mentor the players with actual futures. Not bringing in has-beens who will act in their own self-interests to prolong their dwindling careers.
LOL at mentioning Bol Bol, who was last seen goofing off on the bench of a team that didn’t even make the Play-In. A player with incredible gifts & an NBA father, who squandered every opportunity handed to him. He is about as anti-Taj Gibson as there is. Which is why he signed in the Philippines this week.
My apologies as I see you snuck 21-year-old Dariq Whitehead in there.
Whitehead is shooting 34% in the G-League. He is not remotely close to even being a Two-Way contract level of player. Not even the 10th best guy on his own G-League team. Rather than do any type of homework, you just threw his name out there.
He averaged 8 points as a College freshman, declared early, and got hurt. Hardly the first project to have their career derailed by injury. He plays on the same GLG team as former first-rounder Zhaire Smith, for example, who is averaging 22 PTS on 54 FG%, which should signify how far away Whitehead is as an actual GLG level of player.
Taj Gibson could be FIFTY and he’ll still be a better option for an NBA team than Dariq Whitehead.
Keon Johnson is great. He was amazing dor the nets last season and he can’t even get another chance in the nba now. Freak athlete too
Is Keon Johnson going to set a screen for the ELEVEN GUARDS on this roster?
He was also NOT amazing. He was thoroughly mediocre (at best) for 79 games and 1925 minutes. He had a 50 TS% (39 FG%, 31 3PT%)
He has also been injured most of the season for the Maine Celtics until returning yesterday.
How is Taj still in the league but no one gives mac mcclung a chance
Mac McClung is on the Bulls
Mac McClung would also quite literally be the 12th guard on the Grizzlies.
Because Taj provides vet guidance for these young guys for basketball and outside of basketball.
Mac does not and he has had plenty of opportunities. He can’t guard and not a scorer against NBA level talent.
In the age of countless cookie-cutter 6’6″ small forward G-League nobodies on two-way contracts, it’s refreshing to see a vet like Taj Gibson keep getting signed
Is Tom Thibodeau the HC?
Bklyn in the HOOoousse. Thibs favorite.
Taj is ah good teammate and mentor. Grizz not going anywhere. They just need bodies. Help if he can get to JA. Be more than worth it.
D-rose was a bad mentor but even he couldn’t stop Ja’s demons
It’s sad how it feels like Ja is about to get dumped like Marbury or Sprewell
Ja still has 87M left on his contract. He’ll be ok. He’ll be a free agent at 28 and have no shortage of suitors willing to offer him the MLE at a minimum. Dennis Schroder just got 3/42.
Marbury wasn’t just a headcase, he was also completely unplayable by the time he got out from the Knicks. 37 TS% through 24 regular season and 14 playoff games with Boston before hightailing it to China at Age 32.
Sprewell spat in the face of a generous offer from management and didn’t realize he had no market at Age 35.
Tankathon Lol. Taj is a good veteran mentor. He blocked s couple of shots last year for Charlotte. I would say he has absolutely no legs left. But those plays last year were good plays. Maybe he can still block a shot and box out, and screen, and mentor, and score a basket from time to time. It’s not bad. Intangibles and good veteran presence.
What I find terrible, astonishingly bad, and undertalked about, is the fact that Bol Bol is out of the league.
Guy’s situation is a poor man’s Kuminga situation in the fact that he was also DNP-CD (actually for many games) on the Suns (Durant season), then, after injuries (all this was in the regular season, not playoffs, that being said, but also not in April, those were regular season games played for playoff position), he was inserted into the starting lineup, and, he delivered! Games of 15+ points, with Durant, and almost the full team at the time, sans the player he was replacing (I don’t remember who he was). This guy can score, can handle the ball, is 7’3. Some say he can’t defend on the perimeter, but, put him in the paint, he’s 7’3
Bol Bol doesn’t care enough. Remember last season when his team was getting into it and where’s Bol….. shooting jumpshots on the other side of the court. No heart
I’d rather have Gibson who offers alot more than someone who just thinks about themselves
You can’t put Bol Bol in the paint, he weighs like 200 pounds soaking wet. He doesn’t have a defensive position.
He delivered nothing as a starter. The Suns went 3-7 and were outscored by an average of 4 points anytime he was on the court.
His attitude and work ethic sucked. He’s 26 years old, he is what he is at this point. Compare him to someone like Jay Huff who worked his ass off from the GLG to a backup level center that all 30 teams would be happy to have on their roster. Conversely, all 30 teams had an opportunity to sign Bol and they all passed.
He’s more meme than contributor for a team with any real aspirations. The fact he’s joining an unserious league in the Philippines rather than somewhere in the Euroleague or even China is merely an affirmation of that. I have no doubt he’ll be taking Tacko Fall’s spot in the celebrity game in the near future.
He doesn’t need to bang inside. He just alters shots by standing there and jumping. He has the level to play in the NBA and potential to be a very good player. 7’3 guys who can handle the ball and score don’t come everyday.
If his work ethic Is not there, I understand. But all of his Subs teammates, including Durant, praised him on being locked in and staying ready.
link to basketballnetwork.net
Both Shaq and KD praised him.
Bol bol on the bingo card is the free space
Just need either Torrey Craig or Mo Bamba for bingo
I called this three months ago
I forgot Taj Gibson is still playing…lol
LMAO this guy is a cat.
Ha