Washington State’s Jaylen Wells signs NBA rookie deal

Washington State’s Jaylen Wells signed his NBA rookie contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, Saturday — a four-year $7.9 million deal with the first two years fully guaranteed, according to ESPN.

Memphis drafted Wells with the No. 39 overall pick in the second round of the NBA draft June 27.

Jonathan Givony of Draft Express reported the figures, which show Wells as one of the mid-second round’s top earners. The Toronto Raptors are reportedly paying Jonathan Mogbo (drafted eight spots prior to Wells at No. 31 overall) $6.1 million — $1.8 million less than Wells. The Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns are set to pay their second round picks (No. 33 and 40 overall respectively) a similar sum to Wells of about $7.9 million.

The 20-year-old sharpshooter forged an NBA future thanks to a slew of standout years. Wells averaged a blistering 22.4 points per game his sophomore year at Division II Sonoma State.

At WSU, his 12.4 points per game and 14.6 points per game in Pac-12 play propelled him from a D-II transfer on the Cougars’ bench in November to a March Madness starter in WSU’s first NCAA Tournament since 2008 and an All-Pac-12 honorable mention.

Wells became the first former Sonoma State player to be drafted by an NBA team and the 10th Coug drafted inside the NBA’s top 40.

He joins a talented Grizzlies roster, including Ja Morant and fellow rookie Zach Edey, the two-time AP Player of the Year from Purdue.

Wells will see the Summer League hardwood at 6 p.m. Monday versus the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

WSU’s Jones scores eight in NBA summer debut

In his first taste of summer NBA action, Isaac Jones dunked, rebounded and blocked his way to a positive first impression.

Jones, the 6-foot-9 big who spent a year each at Idaho and Washington State, played 18 minutes in the Sacramento Kings’ 101-50 exhibition win over China on Saturday in the California Classic at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

In those 18 minutes, the former Big Sky Newcomer of the Year and All-Pac-12 honoree scored eight points, snagged six rebounds and delivered a deceive block. He shot 50% (4-for-8) from the floor.

Jones went undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft after leading WSU in scoring. He signed a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings on June 27, which will allow him to play in up to 50 of the Kings’ 82 regular season games, while also spending time with the Kings’ G-League affiliate.

Jones averaged 15.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the Cougs, leading Wazzu to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008.