The Memphis Grizzlies have officially signed undrafted rookie Carson Cooper to a two-way contract, the team announced. The 6'11" center from Michigan State fills the Grizzlies' third and final two-way roster spot. This move comes as Memphis looks to bolster its frontcourt options.
Carson Cooper spent four years at Michigan State, developing into a full-time starter for his senior season. In the 2025/26 campaign, he averaged 11.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 block per game. He played 35 contests, logging 26.7 minutes per night. Cooper was an efficient scorer inside, shooting 58.4% from the field. He also showed reliability at the free throw line, hitting 78.8% of his attempts. The Michigan native helped lead the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 last spring.
Cooper provides much-needed size and depth to the Grizzlies' frontcourt rotation. As a two-way player, he can be active for up to 50 of the team's 82 regular season games. His contract for the 2026/27 season is set at $678,882, which is half of the rookie minimum salary. To create the roster space for Cooper, the Grizzlies waived forward Lawson Lovering, who was on a non-guaranteed training camp deal. Lovering is expected to rejoin the Memphis Hustle, the team's G League affiliate, to start the new season.
Cooper joins guards Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack as the Grizzlies' two-way players. This signing represents a low-risk, potential-high-reward addition for a franchise evaluating talent.
The focus now shifts to integrating Cooper into the system and preparing for the upcoming season. His development with the Memphis Hustle will be important for his readiness to contribute at the NBA level. The Grizzlies will hope his interior presence and efficient scoring can translate. Fans can track his progress and the team's upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
This signing concludes a process that began over three months ago when an agreement was first reported. For a team that ended last season with a 1-4 record in its final five games, every roster move is about building for a better future. Adding a young, productive college big man is a step in that direction.
