Grizzlies Sign Lamar Stevens to 10-Day Contract; Johnny Davis Reportedly Released

The Memphis Grizzlies are signing forward Lamar Stevens to a 10-day contract and releasing guard Johnny Davis in a corresponding move, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

The 27-year-old Stevens has played this season for the Motor City Cruise, the Detroit Pistons' NBA G League affiliate. The 6'7", 230-pound forward has averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks over 18 regular-season games.

The former Penn State star has played four NBA seasons, from 2020-21 to 2023-24. He played his first three years with the Cleveland Cavaliers before spending time with the Boston Celtics and Grizzlies last season. Boston traded Stevens and a pair of second-round draft picks to Memphis last year for Xavier Tillman.

Stevens signed a deal with the Pistons last September but was waived a month later. He landed with the G-League team though and has fared well.

Now the Grizzlies will add a familiar face to the mix for 10 days at minimum. Last season in Memphis, Stevens averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 19 games (two starts) over 23.0 minutes per night.

The stakes are raised in Memphis now. Last year, a host of injuries crushed the team's potential. The Grizzlies had 33 players in uniform last year en route to finishing 27-55.

This year, Memphis is 36-18, sitting second in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies are en route to the playoffs and could very well make some noise when there.

Stevens now finds himself on a contender, and we'll see if he can stick around.

As for Davis, it's been a tough start to his NBA career after the ex-Wisconsin star went 10th overall in the 2022 draft. He averaged just 3.5 PPG over 11.4 MPG in three seasons in Washington, playing 112 games and starting 11. He was dealt to the Grizzlies in a three-team deal (also involving the Sacramento Kings) that notably sent Marcus Smart to Washington.

Davis isn't staying in Memphis, but as Charania noted, there's interest in him. Assuredly, a team should take a chance on a 22-year-old who was once highly regarded enough to be a lottery pick.