The Grizzlies are planning to sign Celtics Summer League standout center Charles Bassey to a deal with the hardship exception according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Bassey spent the preseason with the Atlanta Hawks before being cut during roster trim downs. His new deal comes as the Grizzlies are battling a bevy of injuries over the first week of the season. A team gets the ability to sign a player with a hardship exception when they have at least four players who have missed three consecutive games and aren’t projected to return for three weeks. Memphis qualifies for that criteria already with Ty Jerome, Zach Edey, Scotty Pippin Jr. and Brandon Clarke all injured for extended stretches.
Bassey should provide the Grizzlies with some bench depth behind center Jock Landale once he officially signed. The contract will last at least 10 days and potentially longer depending on how long the Grizzlies absences last.
Bassey played three games for the Celtics in Summer League despite being an unrestricted free agent at the time. The 25-year-old impressed in a starting center role, averaging 15.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per game on 70.4 percent shooting. He left the team before the end of Summer League due to a prior commitment, and Boston elected not to clear a roster spot for him while dealing with a steep luxury tax bill heading into camp. Boston opted to bring aboard former Raptors big man Chris Boucher on a minimum deal this summer after trading away Georges Niang.
Bassey is entering his fifth NBA season after spending the past four seasons with the 76ers and Spurs. He was selected by Philadelphia with the No. 53 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft but was released before latching on with the Spurs. He averaged 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds last year in 36 appearances.
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