Former Portland Trail Blazers wing Rayan Rupert has signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday.
The Blazers waived Rupert on Friday to create roster space so they could convert forward Sidy Cissoko’s two-way deal to a standard NBA contract. Rupert’s three-year deal with the Blazers was set to expire after the season, meaning he would’ve entered restricted free agency this summer.
Rupert, 21, was drafted by Portland with the No. 43 pick in the 2023
NBA Draft, bringing him to Rip City in the same draft class as Scoot Henderson and Kris Murray. In just over two and a half seasons, the 6-foot-7 wing appeared in 139 games for the Blazers, averaging 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 12 minutes per game while shooting 31.7% on 3-pointers.
Rupert appeared in 48 games for the Blazers this season and showed some nice flashes with his defensive length and hustle. Highlights from the season include a 13-point, three-steal performance (on 5-7 shooting) in a 117-101 win against the Atlanta Hawks in January. Rupert also scored 12 points while shooting 4-5 from 3-point land in a 135-115 win against Memphis earlier this month.
Now Rupert will join those same Grizzlies, who have been significantly hampered by injuries lately. Memphis has a 21-34 record and sits in 11th place in the Western Conference, five games back of the 10th-place Blazers.
