Grizzlies Sign Richie Saunders to Two-Way Contract
Official Release /November 7, 2026
Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team signed guard Richie Saunders to a two-way contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a related move, the Grizzlies waived center Carson Cooper.
Saunders (6-5, 205), who was selected by Memphis with the 32nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, started all 25 of his appearances for BYU last season and averaged 18.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 31.4 minutes. The 25-year-old Utah native was named to the 2025-26 All-Big 12 Second Team one year after earning First Team honors and the Big 12 Most Improved Player award as a junior. He finished his collegiate career ranked eighth in school history in 3-pointers made (205) and shot 43.2 percent from 3-point range as a junior during the 2024-25 season.
Cooper (6-11, 245), who signed a two-way contract with Memphis on Sept. 28, appeared in one game for the Grizzlies and recorded one point and two rebounds and one assist in three minutes in his NBA debut on Oct. 31 vs. Sacramento. The 22-year-old Michigan native was unselected in the 2026 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at Michigan State, where he averaged 5.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.2 minutes over 137 games (43 starts).
