The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team signed wing Maozinha Pereira to a second 10-day contract and guard Zavier Simpson to a 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Pereira (6-8, 177) has appeared in four games as a reserve for the Grizzlies and has averaged 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 6.5 minutes since signing his first 10-day contract on March 20 as a Call-Up from the NBA G League’s Mexico City Capitanes. The 23-year-old competed in 40 showcase and regular season games (19 starts) for the Capitanes and averaged 10.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks in 23.5 minutes.
A native of Rio de Janeiro, Pereira played in São Paulo for Corinthians of the Brazilian NBB last season after going unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Simpson (6-0, 190) has started all 48 of his showcase and regular season appearances for the Cruise this season and has averaged 19.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 36.6 minutes. The 27-year-old ranks fourth in assists this season among NBA G League players with at least 30 games played.
Unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft following his senior year at Michigan, Simpson made four starts for the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2021-22 season and averaged 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 43.5 minutes. The Ohio native has competed in 160 NBA G League showcase and regular season games over four seasons with the Oklahoma City Blue, South Bay Lakers and Motor City Cruise. He was named a 2023 NBA G League All-Star with South Bay.