The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to sign Bismack Biyombo.

The Grizzlies lost Steven Adams to a season-ending injury shortly before opening night.

The Grizzlies are able to sign Biyombo via an exemption following the fifth game of Ja Morant's suspension.

Marcus Smart knew it was likely that the Boston Celtics would trade him at some point. But Smart said that didn't really take the sting out of actually being traded.

“If I’m being quite frank, I knew I would be traded eventually,” Smart said. “Just figured it would be the next season, just based off my contract and with the new CBA. We already knew that. But it was just the way it happened. I was told everything was good after asking multiple times. Like, ‘I’m hearing (rumors), what’s going on?’ And they’re like, ‘No, you’re good, you’re good, you’re good.’ And then when I do hear about the trade, it’s from Shams (Charania) on Twitter before I hear from the team.”

Now, Smart is ready for a fresh start with the Memphis Grizzlies.

“You always want to be where you’re wanted, and another team’s trash is another team’s gold. So I’m glad to be here,” Smart said. “I’m glad to be on an organization that wants me and sees me (have) great value. So I’m ecstatic and I’m ready to get going.”

The Memphis Grizzlies have exercised 2024-25 rookie scale contract options on wing Ziaire Williams and forwards Santi Aldama, Jake LaRavia and David Roddy.

Williams (6-9, 185) has appeared in 99 games (35 starts) and has averaged 7.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 19.3 minutes in two seasons.

Aldama (6-11, 224) has competed in 109 games (20 starts) and has averaged 7.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 21.8 minutes in two seasons.

LaRavia (6-7, 235) appeared in 35 games off the bench as a rookie last season and averaged 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11.8 minutes. 

Roddy (6-5, 255) competed in 70 games (four starts) as a rookie last season and averaged 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18.0 minutes. 

Steven Adams will undergo season-ending surgery on his right posterior cruciate ligament, after non-operative rehabilitation did not resolve ongoing knee instability.  

Adams is expected to make a full recovery ahead of next season.

Adams is signed through the 24-25 season with the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies are already without Brandon Clarke in the frontcourt. 

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived Adonis Arms, Shaq Harrison and David Johnson. All three players were signed to non-guaranteed training camp contracts.

Arms, Harrison and Johnson are expected to join the Memphis Hustle for the G League season.

The Grizzlies roster now stands at 15 players on standard contracts and three players on two-way contracts. After five games of the regular season, Memphis will be allowed to transfer Ja Morant to the Suspended List for the remaining 20 games of his 25-game suspension. The Grizzlies can then backfill Morant's spot on the roster with a signing.

The Memphis Grizzlies signed Adonis Arms and David Johnson. To create the roster spots for Arms and Johnson, Memphis waived Timmy Allen and Jason Preston.

Arms and Johnson both signed Exhibit 10 contracts with the Grizzlies. Arms and Johnson are expected to join Allen and Preston on the Memphis Hustle for the upcoming G League season.

The issues surrounding Ja Morant began to accelerate and concern the Memphis Grizzlies around the 2022 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, according to an extended reported piece from ESPN's Baxter Holmes and Tim MacMahon. 

"He went to that first All-Star Game," one team source said, "and then the alligators got him."

Morant entered the league four years ago with no red flags that he would have off-court issues that could lead to multiple suspensions. 

"Zero," said one veteran NBA scout who scouted Morant for a lottery team in position to draft him. "He was the consummate coachable teammate, a choirboy. Underrecruited. Didn't have many scholarship offers. Played with a chip on his shoulder. Glowing stuff. Nothing. There was absolutely nothing."

Said a second veteran NBA scout: "I studied him inside and out. There was not one person who had a bad thing to say about him. Very much a late bloomer. Good family. Had a work ethic. Humble. He checked every single box."

A Murray State assistant coach, James Kane, said Morant didn't drink, didn't smoke and created no issues. 

Team sources said there were concerns about how frequently Morant, underage and often accompanied by his father, would go out drinking, and at some of Memphis' seedier establishments and strip clubs, including on nights before games.

"There was no discipline," a Grizzlies source said. "They felt like they could do anything they wanted. In my opinion, the enabling was out of control. Just constant. Definitely s--- was swept under the rug."

Around the time Morant signed a five-year, $194 million extension with the Grizzlies, some in Memphis noticed a change in him.

"He went from being a nice guy to every time you look up, the kid was always into it with somebody," said one of the Memphis business owners whose establishments Morant had visited frequently. "A staff member, security, always wanting it his way. It's just so much. I can't say all of it. It just went bad, bro -- like the way he carried himself. First, he told me he was coming with his best friend. The next thing, he started coming with an entourage. The next thing, he's got a platinum grill in his mouth. The next thing, he's into it with parking lot security because they won't let him park somewhere."

In early February 2023, before his incident at a Colorado night club, Zach Kleiman and Taylor Jenkins met with Morant to discuss off-the-court issues. Morant wasn't interested in having the conversation and refused to acknowledge the issues of his conduct.

"As everyone is aware, Ja and the Grizzlies have had several meetings throughout this year," Morant's agent, Jim Tanner, wrote in a statement to ESPN. "In each of these meetings the Grizzlies have been clear with their expectations while being supportive of Ja's efforts to work on himself on and off the court. ... It is grossly inaccurate to say that Ja's response to any meetings with the Grizzlies has ever been dismissive."

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed Jason Preston and Timmy Allen. In a corresponding move, Memphis waived Matthew Hurt and Mychael Mulder.

Preston and Allen are likely to have signed non-guaranteed training camp contracts. Hurt and Mulder were both on Exhibit 10 camp deals, as well. All four players will likely land with the Memphis Hustle of the G League, as the Grizzlies are carrying 15 fully guaranteed standard contracts already.

Marcus Smart has yet to make his preseason debut for the Memphis Grizzlies, due to an abdominal injury. Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said that abdominal soreness has dissipated, and now it's about ramping Smart up for the regular season. That process includes Smart potentially making his Grizzlies debut in Friday's preseason finale.

Smart was traded to Memphis from the Boston Celtics this summer in a three-team trade that involved the Washington Wizards. Memphis is counting on Smart to fill in at the point guard position, while Ja Morant serves a 25-game suspension to open the season. Smart will then shuffle to the wing, to help replace Dillon Brooks, who signed with the Houston Rockets.

Ja Morant's 25-game suspension is not expected to be shortened or extended, according to the NBA.

“The league and the Players Association and Ja and his people are in constant communication with this, and are all working together on this.

"From a league office standpoint, with the Players Association, with Ja and his people, everybody is collaborating together on this to make sure that this kid makes a smooth transition back to the league — whenever that is," said Joe Dumars, executive vice president of basketball operations for the NBA.

There was vagueness in the initial wording of the suspension, with Morant required to meet certain conditions before his return. 

Morant is currently allowed to practice and travel with the team while he serves the suspension. 

Morant is likely to return on December 19 against the Pelicans.