Memphis Grizzlies fans were puzzled.

More than a month went by with Luke Kennard as a free agent, despite the team’s interest in re-signing the sharpshooter. But Desmond Bane was never worried.

Not even one bit.

Bane, speaking at his annual back-to-school supply giveaway event Saturday morning, said he had the “inside scoop” before the Grizzlies eventually agreed to a contract with Kennard on Aug. 1.

“I’m looking at Twitter like, ‘these fools,’” Bane said.

Bane, who has spent most of his offseason in Texas, was back in Memphis at the Memphis Sports & Events center, where he and sponsors teamed up to give school supplies to kids.

The 6-foot-5 Grizzlies shooting guard noticeably looked slimmer while sporting a white Nike shirt and Grizzlies jogging pants. This is the first time since Bane was entering his second season that he will be able to focus solely on his game. He dealt with back soreness at the end of the 2022 season and had an offseason procedure on his right foot in 2023.

Now, his focus is elsewhere.

“Every year, it’s something,” Bane said. “I’m trying to get in shape, slim up and be ready for the season.”

Grizzlies offseason chemistry plans

Bane bought a home in Texas and has spent most of his summer there instead of Memphis. Bane starred at TCU for four years before being drafted 30th overall by the Grizzlies in 2020.

Since Bane hasn’t been in Memphis much, he hasn’t had a lot of time to interact with teammates, but that’s changing very soon. Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. will be training in Texas with Bane this week. Bane said the team will plan to get together in Memphis for basketball sessions toward the end of August before preseason camp.

"I think that we can accomplish great things, but if last year taught us anything, we can't take anything for granted," Bane said. "We got to come in with the right attitude and approach."

Bane ready to play with Zach Edey

Bane was one of the first Grizzlies players to react when the Grizzlies drafted center Zach Edey in the first round of the 2024 draft. What he saw in summer league and expects of Edey was only confirmation of that anticipation.

Edey is expected to bring more stability to the center spot in Memphis. When Bane talked about the Grizzlies rookie, he mentioned former Memphis center Steven Adams.

“I think it’s going to be a good fit,” Bane said of Edey. “Obviously we lost (Adams). He replaces a lot of things we lost with him and then some.”

While Bane is in Memphis this weekend, he’ll spend more time with Edey. The two will get together Saturday night to watch the Terence Crawford boxing match versus Israil Madrimov.

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Bane's commitment to Memphis community

Growing up in the Boys & Girls club while living in Richmond, Indiana, shaped Bane’s outlook on community efforts. For the third straight year, he hosted an event in Memphis as part of his “Bane’s Backpacks” initiative. Bane donated 1,000 backpacks and other school supplies. He helped hand those out while he interacted with kids.

“Seeing the smiles on their faces, the excitement, shock,” Bane said. “The freeness to be in an environment like this that’s healthy and positive is hard to even put into words,” Bane said.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Desmond Bane excited to play with Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Edey