Scotty Pippen Jr. signs two-way deal with Los Angeles Lakers following 2022 NBA Draft

On3 imageby:Alex Weber•06/24/22

Scotty Pippen Jr. failed to hear his name called during Friday’s NBA Draft. However, the former Vanderbilt guard as found a home at one of the most historic franchises in sports. According to Shams Charania, Pippen is headed to the Lakers to team up with LeBron James. Here’s what Charania tweeted late Thursday night regarding Pippen’s deal:

“Vanderbilt guard Scotty Pippen Jr. has agreed to a two-way NBA contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell @TheAthletic@Stadium.”

A two-way contract means Pippen will spend most of his time in the G-League during the 2022-23 season. However, Los Angeles has the ability to call him up to play a certain number of games for the actual team. But once a certain number of games is hit, the Lakers will have to sign Pippen to a year-long in order to keep playing him on the real team.

He has a rare opportunity in Los Angeles, though. The Lakers could hardly find three decent players to fit around LeBron James and Anthony Davis at a given time. Outside of their star duo, LA is hurting for serviceable role players, and for the cheap. They almost need a guy or two like Pippen — young and cheap — to pop in order to field a team without breaking the bank.

Scotty Pippen will get his chance to play.

Pippen background

Though he is direct kin to the great Scottie Pippen of Chicago Bulls lore, the younger Scotty was only a three-star recruit out of high school. 169th best overall player in the class per the On3 Consensus. But he blasted those projections out of the water his first year by starting every game and averaging 12 points and 3.6 assists per night.

Then, he blossomed again as a sophomore, improving tremendously as a scorer. He averaged 20.8 points a game in year two as Vanderbilt tanked in the standings while he secured All-SEC honors. His final year in the gold and black wasn’t much better in the big picture. Vandy still stunk and Pippen Jr. was excellent, averaging north of 20 a game yet again on his way to a second straight All-SEC appearance.

Sure, there was probably enough NIL money on the table to make a return worthwhile. He also could have transferred to a better school if he did go back to college. But after three years under Jerry Stackhouse at Vandy, Pippen was ready to call it quits and explore professional opportunities.