The Los Angeles Lakers have seen many talents emerge over the years. They failed to guard everything and sometimes failed to keep certain players strong.

The organization has done well in terms of recruiting and development in recent years, but sometimes players become casualties when it comes to roster moves. One of the most promising players was former center Jay Huff.

Huff went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft and ultimately signed with the Lakers on a two-way contract. He showed promise during Summer League, but was ultimately cut as the team needed space for other intriguing players.

He signed a two-way deal with the Washington Wizards and ended up playing in the G-League with them. Huff was named Defensive Player of the Year after averaging four blocks per game, but that wasn’t enough for the Wizards to keep him.

Washington let him go and he landed with the Denver Nuggets for a brief period. He eventually signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in a two-way deal and seemed to find a home.

He has now converted his two-way contract into a full NBA deal with Memphis. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania announced the news on social media.

Huff has worked his way to get there and the Grizzlies are high on his overall potential. The former Lakers product barely played in the NBA, but he looked decent when he was with the Wizards.

He averaged 7.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game for Washington over seven games played during the 2022-23 season. Huff then played in 20 games for the Nuggets last season, but averaged just 1.2 points per game.

In Memphis, he will compete for minutes alongside a talented frontcourt. After three games with the Grizzlies this season, Huff appears to be headed for a potential year.

He averages 13.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Huff is also shooting 57.1 percent from beyond the 3-point line.

The Grizzles view it as a nice compliment to Jaren Jackson Jr. and if he can keep his game strong, it would go a long way to their chances this season. He has earned respect and now has a full-time contract with the NBA.

The former Virginia Cavalier has battled through adversity and now has the opportunity to show what he can do at the NBA level.

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