The Memphis Grizzlies added free agents Luke Jackson, Tre Kelley, Kenny Thomas and Damien Wilkins, who collectively add 21 years of NBA experience to their 2010 training camp roster, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Jackson, a 6-7, 215-pound guard/forward, joins the team after spending last season with Carife Ferrara in Italy, where the 29-year-old averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 30 games. The Eugene, Ore. native was selected 10th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers after being named a finalist for the John R. Wooden and Naismith College Player of the Year Awards as a senior at the University of Oregon. Jackson holds career averages of 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 73 games (three starts) over four seasons (2004-08) with the Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat.
Kelley, a 6-0, 188-pound guard, spent last season with Club Sagesse in the Lebanese Basketball League. The 25-year-old also has played professionally in China, Israel and Greece following a four-year career at the University of South Carolina (2003-07). The Washington, D.C. native left the Gamecocks ranked ninth all-time on the school’s scoring list (1,488 points), second in games played (134) and third in assists (510), winning National Invitation Tournament (NIT) titles in 2005 and 2006.
Thomas, a 6-7, 261-pound forward, comes to Memphis after playing the last five-and-a-half seasons with the Sacramento Kings. The 33-year-old University of New Mexico product holds career averages of 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 632 games (406 starts) over an 11-year NBA career with the Kings, Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers. The Atlanta, Ga. native’s most productive season came with Philadelphia in 2003-04, when he was one of 11 players to average double figures in points (13.6) and rebounds (career-high 10.1).
Wilkins, a 6-6, 225-pound guard/forward, joins the Grizzlies after spending the 2009-10 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he averaged 5.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 80 games (31 starts). The 30-year-old University of Georgia product holds career averages of 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 390 games (126 starts) over six NBA seasons (2004-10) with the Timberwolves and Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder. The Washington, N.C. native is the nephew of NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins and son of former Vancouver Grizzlies guard/forward Gerald Wilkins.
